Patients with breast cancer who were treated aggressively were more apt to experience considerable work disruptions, according to a survey involving >1,000 women. Investigators surveyed women with stage 0 to II breast cancer, and compared answers from patients who missed work for >1 month or stopped work altogether with those who missed work for ≤1 month. Among the results:

• Patients treated surgically were nearly 8 times more likely to miss >1 month of work, and more than 3 times more likely to stop working altogether.
• Patients who received chemotherapy were 30% more likely to miss >1 month, and nearly 4 times more likely to stop work altogether.
• Blacks were twice as likely as whites to miss >1 month of work, and 70% more likely to stop work altogether.
• Patients with paid sick leave were 50% less likely to stop working.
• Those with flexible schedules were 30% less likely to stop.