Employment status among adult survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Abstract

Background With increased cure, childhood cancer survivors are reaching adulthood and seeking employment. Host, disease and treatment risk factors may contribute to inability to attain or maintain employment. Procedure The prevalence and risk factors for unemployment were evaluated using self-reported employment history in 10,399 childhood cancer survivors and 3,083 siblings ≥ age 18 in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). Results Among survivors, 5.6% reported unemployment, compared with 1.2% of siblings (odds ratio [OR] 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6, 5.1). Increased risks were observed within all cancer diagnoses. In multivariate analysis, diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) tumor (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.1), bone cancer (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0, 2.1), treatment with ≥30 Gy cranial radiotherapy (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.9, 5.5), female gender (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2, 1.7) and age < 4 years at diagnosis (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1, 1.8) increased risk. Diagnosis of CNS or bone tumor or cranial radiotherapy ≥30 Gy remained significant after adjusting for treatment, medical late effects, age and gender. Risk of unemployment decreased with attained age (OR_(year) 0.89; 95% CI 0.87, 0.91). Conclusions Compared to siblings, adult childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for unemployment with highest risk defined by diagnosis, treatment and demographic factors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:104–110.