The impact of cancer-related workplace discrimination on anxiety among breast cancer survivors
Abstract
Background: Employment following treatment for breast cancer is a major public health concern. Upon returning to work, some breast cancer survivors (BCS) report workplace discrimination, which can have a deleterious effect on their mental health. This study aimed to assess the impact of workplace discrimination due to cancer on anxiety in BCS. In addition, we identified the subgroups in which the effects are amplified.
Methods: We used data from the French CANTO prospective cohort (N = 1,316), BCS who returned to work after treatment. We used Inverse Probability Weighting to adjust for covariates measured at multiple time points and a Marginal Structural Model to estimate the causal effect of perceived workplace discrimination at 2 and/or 3 years post-diagnosis on anxiety symptoms at 4 years post-diagnosis.
Results: Overall, 38.6% BCS reported workplace discrimination at 2 and/or 3 years post-diagnosis. Among women who reported discrimination, 57.9% had elevated anxiety symptoms, compared with 36.4% among those who did not report discrimination. We found that workplace discrimination was associated with increased odds of elevated anxiety (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.86). The effect was stronger for women under 50, those who had partners, and those with only high school education, but there were no significant differences across types of workplace accommodations.
Conclusions: These findings emphasize the need to protect BCS from workplace discrimination in order to support their mental health when returning to work.
Key messages: • Workplace discrimination after breast cancer is associated with higher anxiety, with younger and lower-educated survivors most affected.
• Protecting breast cancer survivors from workplace discrimination is key to improving mental health outcomes and supporting sustainable return to work.
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BibTeX
@article{ntobeng2026impact,
title = {{The impact of cancer-related workplace discrimination on anxiety among breast cancer survivors}},
author = {K Ntobeng and G Ruiz-de-Azua and I Licaj and J Havas and A Di Meglio and I Vaz-Luis and AL Martin and C Jouffroy-Zeller and A Dumas and G Menvielle},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.375},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.375},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The impact of cancer-related workplace discrimination on anxiety among breast cancer survivors
AU - K Ntobeng
AU - G Ruiz-de-Azua
AU - I Licaj
AU - J Havas
AU - A Di Meglio
AU - I Vaz-Luis
AU - AL Martin
AU - C Jouffroy-Zeller
AU - A Dumas
AU - G Menvielle
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.375
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.375
AB - Background: Employment following treatment for breast cancer is a major public health concern. Upon returning to work, some breast cancer survivors (BCS) report workplace discrimination, which can have a deleterious effect on their mental health. This study aimed to assess the impact of workplace discrimination due to cancer on anxiety in BCS. In addition, we identified the subgroups in which the effects are amplified. Methods: We used data from the French CANTO prospective cohort (N = 1,316), BCS who returned to work after treatment. We used Inverse Probability Weighting to adjust for covariates measured at multiple time points and a Marginal Structural Model to estimate the causal effect of perceived workplace discrimination at 2 and/or 3 years post-diagnosis on anxiety symptoms at 4 years post-diagnosis. Results: Overall, 38.6% BCS reported workplace discrimination at 2 and/or 3 years post-diagnosis. Among women who reported discrimination, 57.9% had elevated anxiety symptoms, compared with 36.4% among those who did not report discrimination. We found that workplace discrimination was associated with increased odds of elevated anxiety (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.86). The effect was stronger for women under 50, those who had partners, and those with only high school education, but there were no significant differences across types of workplace accommodations. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the need to protect BCS from workplace discrimination in order to support their mental health when returning to work. Key messages: • Workplace discrimination after breast cancer is associated with higher anxiety, with younger and lower-educated survivors most affected. • Protecting breast cancer survivors from workplace discrimination is key to improving mental health outcomes and supporting sustainable return to work.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -