Return to Work and Quality of Life in Disease-Free Adult Patients with Soft-Tissue and Bone Sarcoma of the Extremity

Treatment of extremital sarcoma patients may be associated with significant functional disabilities and psychosocial distress affecting return to work (RtW) and quality of life (QoL). In this exploratory study we prospectively investigated the RtW rate, explored biomedical and psychosocial predictors of RtW, and compared generic QoL with Swiss population norms. Forty people (89 %) returned to work. Full-time employment before sarcoma diagnosis, high educational level, and low tumor grade showed an increased probability of RtW. The median age was lower in patients who returned to work, and they reported less fear of progression. Generic QoL (SF-36) was reduced in almost all dimensions when compared to a normative Swiss population. Physical functioning and fear of progression have to be addressed in the rehabilitation process.