The return to work of cancer survivors: The experience in Spain

Because of improvements in diagnosis and treatment, cancer survival has increased in recent decades. Cancer survivors may experience problems when returning to their normal lives, particularly with returning to work. In the past few decades, a number of studies examining the work-return process of cancer survivors have been conducted in a select group of countries, but comparable studies are lacking in other countries, including Spain.To review the research literature on cancer and work in Spain and the design and methodology of the interventions studied.A systematic literature review was performed on return to work and employment in Spanish cancer survivors with the databases PubMed, Medline and Spanish database IME.Eight studies were reviewed and analyzed. The studies had a mean sample size of 115 participants. Two of the studies predominantly focused on mixed cancer populations; 3 of the studies focused on breast cancer patients, 1 study focused on head and neck cancer patients, 1 study focused on colorectal cancer patients and 1 study focused on patients with lymphoma.Further research in Spain and other countries is necessary, and efforts should be made to support the re-employment of cancer patients.