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The Meaning of Work

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Work and Cancer Survivors

Work is one of the central organizing structures of adult life. The significance of a cancer diagnosis to work life has been radically altered during the past half-century. Driven by innovations in diagnosis and treatment, individuals diagnosed with cancer are living longer, better-quality lives. For example, in 1960, 25% of adults diagnosed with cancer survived five years, while in 2007, 65% of cancer patients lived for five years [1]. In the majority of cases, the notion of a cancer diagnosis has evolved from an almost certain death sentence to either a persistent/chronic condition or even a curable disease with some long-term sequellae. Furthermore, not only are more adults surviving cancer, but the generation of children treated for cancer in the 1970s and 1980s are now entering the workforce [1].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Staff Psychiatrist on the Palliative Care Team, Massachusetts General Hospital, Wang ACC 812, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA

    Guy Maytal

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  1. Guy Maytal
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  2. John Peteet
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Correspondence to Guy Maytal .

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Maytal, G., Peteet, J. (2009). The Meaning of Work. In: Work and Cancer Survivors. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72041-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72041-8_5

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  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-72040-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-72041-8

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