Resumption of Employment after Cervical Cancer Surgery: a 3-Year Follow-Up Study of Long-term Outcomes

INTRODUCTION. Despite advancements in cervical cancer (CC) diagnosis and treatment, surgical intervention remains the cornerstone of radical treatment. However, surgical procedures can result in complications such as lymphedema, sexual dysfunction, and other physical and psychosocial disorders, significantly affecting patients' quality of life (QoL) and ability to return to work. This emphasizes the need for effective strategies to support patients in resuming their occupational activities post-treatment. AIM. To investigate the relationship between different rehabilitation programmes following cervical cancer surgery and return to work MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study included patients aged 18 and older with stage 1A–1B cervical cancer. Patients were randomized into two groups: those receiving an active comprehensive rehabilitation program (СС-1, 51 patients) and those receiving passive rehabilitation (СС-2, 52 patients). The active rehabilitation program included a personalized, year-long regimen encompassing physical therapy, psychotherapeutic support, and lifestyle modifications, among other interventions. In contrast, the passive rehabilitation group received standard post-operative care information and general recommendations based on local clinical guidelines. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who returned to work at various time points up to 36 months post-surgery. RESULTS. Patients in the СС-1 group demonstrated significantly higher rates of return to work compared to the CC-2 group from the third month post-surgery onwards. At 36 months, all patients in the CC-1 group had returned to work, whereas only 66.7 % of patients in the CC-2 group had resumed their professional activities. In the CC-1 group the chance of returning to work within 3 years after surgery was 2.14 times higher compared to those in the CC-2 group (OR = 0.467, 95 % CI 0.309–0.706, p 0.001). CONCLUSION. The study highlights the significant impact of personalized comprehensive active rehabilitation programs on improving the likelihood of return to work following surgical treatment for early-stage cervical cancer. These findings suggest that such rehabilitation approaches may be crucial in enhancing the long-term recovery and social reintegration of cervical cancer patients, ultimately contributing to better overall outcomes. Further research is needed to identify the most effective components of these rehabilitation programs and optimize their implementation.