Australia has made significant strides in improving cancer survival, but new research from Griffith University finds far less progress in supporting a survivor’s return-to-work journey, which remains a major challenge for many.
Researchers interviewed 22 cancer survivors, healthcare professionals and employers within the return‑to‑work ecosystem, to identify barriers and gaps across the system, and delivered 13 recommendations.
Associate Professor Carys Chan from the Department of Management said return‑to‑work challenges for cancer survivors were becoming increasingly significant as advances in medical treatment continued to improve survival rates.
“Returning to work is an important part of recovery after cancer, helping survivors rebuild social connections, restore identity, improve quality of life, and achieve financial security,” Associate Professor Chan said.
“We found that fatigue was the single most significant physical barrier to returning to work – unlike ordinary tiredness, cancer-related fatigue is overwhelming, persistent, and unrelieved by rest.”
One survivor described the impact of fatigue: “I had my full four days a week last week, and I was cooked by the end of the week, by the end of the day, and really, really, really am pushing my body to the limit to try and get back to work.”
Other major barriers included cognitive impairment, unsupportive employers, financial pressure and social discomfort, as well as loss of confidence and fear about work capacity following treatment.
For many, the experience also involved a profound disruption to identity, as one survivor explained: “Well, I didn’t have an identity. When I left, I didn’t have an identity. My identity was I had cancer, that was it.”
“If we want cancer survivors to thrive, not just survive, we need systems and workplaces that understand their experiences and adapt to meet their needs,” Associate Professor Chan said.
Though employers held a genuine interest in supporting continued employment, without guidance on appropriate workplace adjustments, some held fast to inflexible workloads or didn’t understand their employee’s needs.
Health professionals felt frustrated by late insurer referrals, which often delayed patient rehabilitation, leading to prolonged recovery times and higher claim costs, despite evidence that earlier intervention during treatment could improve outcomes.
“Clinicians said there needed to be more communication with oncologists about return-to-work planning, which was a gap that left survivors to advocate for their own needs – a difficult task for those who are experiencing a lack of confidence and persistent fatigue,” Associate Professor Chan said.
The recommendations outlined a roadmap for supporting life after cancer by prioritising earlier access to rehabilitation, recognising fatigue and identity disruption as legitimate barriers, strengthening employer and clinician capability, and embedding survivorship support into health and policy systems.
The industry research report, ‘Return-to-Work for Cancer Survivors in the Life Insurance Context’, was a joint research collaboration between Griffith University and Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd and was published in the Griffith Research Repository.
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Xi Wen (Carys) Chan
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