Download recruitment poster.


Abstract

As the most common form of cancer among women between the ages of 20 and 59, breast cancer may be construed as the cancer of working women. Each year, an average of 690 Nova Scotian women will face a breast cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, most will survive; however, the negative impact of the disease can persist long after it is in remission. For example, in the five years after initial treatment, breast cancer survivors suffer a dramatic drop in annual income, attributed to a reduction in hours worked. Full abstract here.

Impact of Work On Women
with Breast Cancer

Thriving or Simply Surviving?

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Would you like to create a healthier workplace? Are you a breast cancer survivor? Have you worked alongside or employed a breast cancer survivor?

WHAT: A research group at Saint Mary's University in Halifax is conducting a study to better understand how women experience their work when fighting breast cancer, and how employers and co-workers can best support them to thrive and not simply "survive" in the workplace.

WHO: We will be conducting interviews with women who are employed in traditional and non-traditional "low-exertion" jobs such as, but not limited to: finance, administration, public health nurse, computer operator/programmer, professor, medical/dental technician, and many other roles, who have had a breast cancer diagnosis in the last five years, as well as with co-workers and employers of breast cancer survivors from the last five years from across Nova Scotia. Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

All information will be treated as private and confidential and your name will never be associated with the information you provide. Your time is valuable to us. Participants will be compensated for their time ($25 per interview).

WHEN: Interview times will be based on your schedule.

WHERE: Interviews will be held province-wide at a place of your choosing

TIME: Interviews take 60 to 90 minutes, and can be held in the morning, afternoon or evening.

Contact
Dorothy Shipley
Department of Psychology
Saint Mary’s University
Halifax, NS B3H 3C3
(902) 491-8628
dshipley301@gmail.com

Research Ethics Board file number SMU REB # 11-007