Income and Employment of Patients at the Start of and During Follow-up After Palliative Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastasis

Hiroki Shirato, MD; Hideyuki Harada, MD; Yukako Iwasaki, MS; Akifumi Notsu, PhD; Kazunari Yamada, MD; Haruka Uezono, MD; Yutaro Koide, MD; Hitoshi Wada, MD; Hikaru Kubota, MD; Naoto Shikama, MD; Takuya Yamazaki, MD; Kei Ito, MD; Joichi Heianna, MD; Yukinori Okada, MD; Ayako Tonari, MD; Shigeo Takahashi, MD; Takashi Kosugi, MD; Yasuo Ejima, MD; Norio Katoh, MD; Kayo Yoshida, MD; Takafumi Komiyama, MD; Nobue Uchida, MD; Misako Miwa, MD; Miho Watanabe, MD; Hisayasu Nagakura, MD; Tetsuo Saito, MD; Hiroko Ikeda, MD; Isao Asakawa, MD; Tateishi Seiichiro, MD; Takeo Takahashi, MD; Naoyuki Shigematsu, MD

Advances in Radiation Oncology (Jul 2023)

Income and Employment of Patients at the Start of and During Follow-up After Palliative Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastasis

Hiroki Shirato, MD,
Hideyuki Harada, MD,
Yukako Iwasaki, MS,
Akifumi Notsu, PhD,
Kazunari Yamada, MD,
Haruka Uezono, MD,
Yutaro Koide, MD,
Hitoshi Wada, MD,
Hikaru Kubota, MD,
Naoto Shikama, MD,
Takuya Yamazaki, MD,
Kei Ito, MD,
Joichi Heianna, MD,
Yukinori Okada, MD,
Ayako Tonari, MD,
Shigeo Takahashi, MD,
Takashi Kosugi, MD,
Yasuo Ejima, MD,
Norio Katoh, MD,
Kayo Yoshida, MD,
Takafumi Komiyama, MD,
Nobue Uchida, MD,
Misako Miwa, MD,
Miho Watanabe, MD,
Hisayasu Nagakura, MD,
Tetsuo Saito, MD,
Hiroko Ikeda, MD,
Isao Asakawa, MD,
Tateishi Seiichiro, MD,
Takeo Takahashi, MD,
Naoyuki Shigematsu, MD

Affiliations

Hiroki Shirato, MD: Global Center for Biomedical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan; Corresponding author: Hiroki Shirato, MD
Hideyuki Harada, MD: Division of Radiation Therapy, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Nagaizumi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Yukako Iwasaki, MS: Global Center for Biomedical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Akifumi Notsu, PhD: Clinical Research Center, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Nagaizumi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Kazunari Yamada, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Haruka Uezono, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hyogo Cancer Center, Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Yutaro Koide, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Hitoshi Wada, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Southern TOHOKU General Hospital, Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Hikaru Kubota, MD: Division of Radiation Oncology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Naoto Shikama, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Takuya Yamazaki, MD: Department of Radiology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Kei Ito, MD: Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Joichi Heianna, MD: Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Yukinori Okada, MD: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Ayako Tonari, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyorin University Hospital, Mitaka, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Shigeo Takahashi, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kagawa University Hospital, Miki, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
Takashi Kosugi, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujieda Municipal General Hospital, Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Yasuo Ejima, MD: Department of Radiology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Norio Katoh, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Kayo Yoshida, MD: Department of Radiology (Radiation Oncology), School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Takafumi Komiyama, MD: Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Nobue Uchida, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Misako Miwa, MD: Department of Radiology, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Miho Watanabe, MD: Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Radiation Oncology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Hisayasu Nagakura, MD: Department of Radiology, KKR Sapporo Medical Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Tetsuo Saito, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Arao Municipal Hospital, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Hiroko Ikeda, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Isao Asakawa, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan
Tateishi Seiichiro, MD: Department of Disaster Occupational Health Center, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Takeo Takahashi, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Naoyuki Shigematsu, MD: Department of Radiology (Radiation Oncology), School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 4
p. 101205

Abstract

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to understand the income and employment status of patients at the start of and during follow-up after palliative radiation therapy for bone metastasis. Methods and Materials: From December 2020 to March 2021, a prospective multi-institutional observational study was conducted to investigate income and employment of patients at the start of administration of radiation therapy for bone metastasis and at 2 and 6 months after treatment. Of 333 patients referred to radiation therapy for bone metastasis, 101 were not registered, mainly because of their poor general condition, and another 8 were excluded from the follow-up analysis owing to ineligibility. Results: In 224 patients analyzed, 108 had retired for reasons unrelated to cancer, 43 had retired for reasons related to cancer, 31 were taking leave, and 2 had lost their jobs at the time of registration. The number of patients who were in the working group was 40 (30 with no change in income and 10 with decreased income) at registration, 35 at 2 months, and 24 at 6 months. Younger patients (P = 0), patients with better performance status (P = 0), patients who were ambulatory (P = .008), and patients with lower scores on a numerical rating scale of pain (P = 0) were significantly more likely to be in the working group at registration. There were 9 patients who experienced improvements in their working status or income at least once in the follow-up after radiation therapy. Conclusions: The majority of patients with bone metastasis were not working at the start of or after radiation therapy, but the number of patients who were working was not negligible. Radiation oncologists should be aware of the working status of patients and provide appropriate support for each patient. The benefit of radiation therapy to support patients continuing their work and returning to work should be investigated further in prospective studies.

Published in Advances in Radiation Oncology

ISSN: 2452-1094 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/advances-in-radiation-oncology/

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