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OBJECTIVE

Reintegration of cancer patients into occupational life is an important social and economic factor. Data for the "return to work" in Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients are sparse, especially compared with other tumor entities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In a selective literature research, original articles dealing with the theme complex "return to work in patients with HNC", between 1997 and 2018 were included and analyzed.

RESULTS

18 relevant articles were identified. After curative therapy, 10-52 % of previously employed patients retired from their work. The influence of the predictors tumor localization, therapy modality and gender were not consistent. However, age, socioeconomic status, therapy-related impairment (e. g. fatigue, depression) and co-morbidity were significant factors for return to work. Rehabilitation exerts a positive effect.

CONCLUSIONS

HNC patients have a high risk to retire from work. The heterogenous methods, the non-standardized points in time used for the assessments and inhomogeneous distribution in tumor localization make it difficult to compare these studies. There is an unmet need of further research in HNC patients to develop evidence-based concepts to facilitate their return to work.

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.