Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Capecitabine

Background: Although the majority of breast cancer patients are able to work, lower work ability and reduced job retention have been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy with capecitabine in patients with breast cancer on work productivity and daily activity. Methods: 34 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled for our study. Capecitabine was given twice daily at a cumulative dose of 2500 mg/m2 on days 1 - 14 and repeated on day 22. Work productivity was determined using the WPAI questionnaire. Results: We observed an increase in absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss and daily activity impairment after 1 cycle and 6 cycles of therapy, but we could not find statistically different significances. Conclusions: This study provides some data indicat- ing an association between problems in breast cancer and work. Our results confirm that capecitabine may improve quality of life of patients with metastatic breast cancer.