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Chronic pain, health-related quality of life, and employment in working-age cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

This study estimated the prevalence of cancer-related pain in working-age cancer survivors (age 25–64 years) and evaluated differences in demographic and clinical variables in those with and without pain. We also investigated the impact of cancer-related pain on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and employment outcomes in this population.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Analyses were conducted with a sample of 1702 cancer survivors who completed treatment. All analyses were conducted using procedures to account for the complex sampling design of the BRFSS.

Results

Nearly 17% (95% CI [13.94–19.58]) of working-age cancer survivors reported experiencing cancer-related pain. Among those who experienced pain, the majority were female, white, non-Hispanic, married/partnered, and non-employed, with breast as the most common cancer disease site. Those with cancer-related pain experienced more physically unhealthy days (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 1.63, 95% CI [1.16–2.28]), mentally unhealthy days (aRR 1.52, 95% CI [1.02–2.26]), and activity interference (aRR 2.15, 95% CI [1.53–3.02]). Cancer-related pain decreased the odds of being employed, but only in female survivors (adjusted odds ratio 0.34, 95% CI [0.22–0.54]).

Conclusion

Cancer-related chronic pain is a prevalent, long-term condition that is negatively associated with HRQoL and employment in working-age cancer survivors.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Clinical interventions targeting chronic pain may improve HRQoL in working-age cancer survivors and employment outcomes, particularly in women.

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Funding

ECM was funded by the National Cancer Institute through grant K12 CA086913.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12801 E 17th Ave., Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Emily Cox-Martin & Virginia Borges

  2. Cancer Prevention and Control, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Amy Anderson-Mellies

  3. University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Health Systems, Management, and Policy, University of Colorado Cancer Center, 13001 E. 17th Pl, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Cathy Bradley

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  1. Emily Cox-Martin
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Correspondence to Emily Cox-Martin.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and it later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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Cox-Martin, E., Anderson-Mellies, A., Borges, V. et al. Chronic pain, health-related quality of life, and employment in working-age cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 14, 179–187 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00843-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00843-0

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