Returning to work after treatment for a low-grade glioma: analysing return-to-work rates and exploring barriers experienced by patients

PURPOSE: Low-grade glioma (LGG) brain tumours negatively affect a patient’s quality of life. LGGs typically develop in adults of working age and are incurable. With life expectancy now exceeding 15 years from diagnosis, the clinical focus should be on preserving patients’ quality of life (QoL). Returning to work after oncology treatment has been shown to enhance QoL in cancer patients. However, research specifically exploring LGG patients’ experiences of returning to work is limited. This study examined the return-to-work rate among a sample of LGG patients and identified barriers to return to work. METHOD: A total of 47 LGG patients (aged 22–59 years; 31 females, 16 males) responded to an online questionnaire distributed via charity e-newsletters. Data collected included demographics, employment status, and evaluations of clinical services (e.g., vocational rehabilitation). Participants reported their perceived levels of higher cognitive functioning (such as working memory, attention, and decision-making) now compared to before their diagnosis, using a 15-item four-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Results indicated that over a third of participants (40.4%) had not returned to work, with the majority (68.4%) expressing a desire to do so. Only seven participants received vocational rehabilitation. Symptoms of LGG and travelling to the workplace were identified as barriers to returning to work. Scores for perceived deficits in working memory were significantly higher in participants who had not returned to work (p = .027). CONCLUSION: The findings emphasise the need for improved clinical services, particularly cognitive assessments and vocational rehabilitation, to support successful return to work for LGG patients.