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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Cancer Survivorship

Navigating work after prostate cancer treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research

  • Dunya Tomic1
  • Tessa Keegel1
  • Sophie K. Schellack2
  • Lisa Abdel-Malek3
  • Caron Jander3
  • Supun T. Hettige4
  • Ewan MacFarlane1
  • Jeremy Millar4,5
  • Karen Walker-Bone1
5 affiliations
  1. 1Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia
  2. 2German Cancer Society, Kuno-Fischer-Straße 8, 14057 Berlin, Germany
  3. 3Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
  4. 4Alfred Health, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia
  5. 5School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia
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Abstract

Purpose: Prostate cancer treatment can disrupt working life, yet there is limited understanding of how men experience work during and after treatment. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on prostate cancer survivors’ work-related experiences.

Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar for qualitative research reporting men’s work experiences during or after prostate cancer treatment. Screening, quality appraisal, and thematic synthesis followed PRISMA guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251083779).

Results: Eleven studies involving 302 men were included. Six themes emerged: return-to-work timing and trajectories; financial pressures; support systems; treatment side effects and stigma; adjustments and adaptations; and work identity, values, and priorities. Men described variable return-to-work pathways, influenced by treatment effects such as incontinence. Workplace and family support helped facilitate work participation, while men adapted responsibilities to accommodate health needs. Work held multifaceted meaning, serving as a source of identity and coping, although some men reprioritised their identities toward health and family goals.

Conclusions: Men’s return to work after prostate cancer is shaped by treatment effects, workplace flexibility, and social support, within the workplace and from family and community support services. Evidence on interventions to support reintegration is limited, highlighting the need for tailored occupational and survivorship strategies.

Implications for cancer survivors: Returning to work involves balancing personal health, workplace demands, and social responsibilities. Survivors can benefit from proactively communicating needs to employers, seeking tailored workplace adjustments, and leveraging support networks to sustain meaningful work participation.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02062-w.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{tomic2026navigating,
  title = {{Navigating work after prostate cancer treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research}},
  author = {Dunya Tomic and Tessa Keegel and Sophie K. Schellack and Lisa Abdel-Malek and Caron Jander and Supun T. Hettige and Ewan MacFarlane and Jeremy Millar and Karen Walker-Bone},
  journal = {Journal of Cancer Survivorship},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1007/s11764-026-02062-w},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02062-w},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Navigating work after prostate cancer treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research
AU  - Dunya Tomic
AU  - Tessa Keegel
AU  - Sophie K. Schellack
AU  - Lisa Abdel-Malek
AU  - Caron Jander
AU  - Supun T. Hettige
AU  - Ewan MacFarlane
AU  - Jeremy Millar
AU  - Karen Walker-Bone
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/16
JO  - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
DO  - 10.1007/s11764-026-02062-w
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02062-w
AB  - Purpose: Prostate cancer treatment can disrupt working life, yet there is limited understanding of how men experience work during and after treatment. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on prostate cancer survivors’ work-related experiences.  Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar for qualitative research reporting men’s work experiences during or after prostate cancer treatment. Screening, quality appraisal, and thematic synthesis followed PRISMA guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251083779).  Results: Eleven studies involving 302 men were included. Six themes emerged: return-to-work timing and trajectories; financial pressures; support systems; treatment side effects and stigma; adjustments and adaptations; and work identity, values, and priorities. Men described variable return-to-work pathways, influenced by treatment effects such as incontinence. Workplace and family support helped facilitate work participation, while men adapted responsibilities to accommodate health needs. Work held multifaceted meaning, serving as a source of identity and coping, although some men reprioritised their identities toward health and family goals.  Conclusions: Men’s return to work after prostate cancer is shaped by treatment effects, workplace flexibility, and social support, within the workplace and from family and community support services. Evidence on interventions to support reintegration is limited, highlighting the need for tailored occupational and survivorship strategies.  Implications for cancer survivors: Returning to work involves balancing personal health, workplace demands, and social responsibilities. Survivors can benefit from proactively communicating needs to employers, seeking tailored workplace adjustments, and leveraging support networks to sustain meaningful work participation.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02062-w.
SN  - 1932-2259
SN  - 1932-2267
ER  -