Study Shows Breast Cancer Survivors Face Significant Economic and Work-Life Challenges

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New research from Monash University, published in Cancer Epidemiology, reveals that breast cancer among Australian women results in billions of dollars in lost productivity and wages.

In 2022, an estimated 10,732 working-age Australian women (20-64 years old) were diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the study, this cohort is projected to lose 16,403 productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) over 10 years.

PALY is a measure that considers both the loss of life expectancy and the loss of productivity due to illness.

On average, each woman diagnosed will lose the equivalent of 1.5 years of full-time work, based on the Australian average full-time earnings of $85,384 for females.

Collectively, this amounts to an estimated $1.4 billion in lost wages, which equates to a $3.26 billion loss in gross domestic product (GDP).

Implications of Findings

The study aimed to quantify the economic and quality of life burden of breast cancer on working-age Australian women.

Dr. Melanie Lloyd, a joint first author from the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS), said investing in increased productivity initiatives for breast cancer patients could have significant economic benefits.

“By quantifying the economic burden associated with breast cancer in Australia in terms of diminished productivity, this study substantiates the need for funding initiatives that aid integration back into the workforce,” Lloyd said in a press release.

“Helping to support a woman’s journey back into the workforce is not only beneficial to the individual but could also help to reduce the economic burden of cancer in Australia.”

Professor Zanfina Ademi, a lead health economist from CMUS and the study’s lead author, said productivity economic losses due to breast cancer exceed healthcare costs.

“It’s important to note that the estimated AU$3.26 billion GDP attributed to reduced productivity over the 10 years post-diagnosis among the study’s cohort is additional to the approximate AU$1.5 billion healthcare expenditure annually attributable to breast cancer in Australia,” Ademi said.

“Taking this into account, the potential social and economic benefits that could result from supporting women to return to the workforce after a breast cancer diagnosis is certainly worth exploring.

“For many women, work is a place where they can reclaim their identity, and evidence suggests returning to work is a key contributor to overall quality of life in breast cancer survivorship.”