A new study from the University of Copenhagen has found that radiation therapy for breast cancer does more than just help patients survive.
It also helps them return to work and earn more money in the long run. This study gives hope not only for better health outcomes but also for better financial futures for breast cancer survivors.
Radiation therapy is a common treatment that uses powerful energy to kill cancer cells. It is often used after surgery to make sure the cancer does not come back. While it is well-known that this treatment improves survival, this study looked at whether it also helps patients do better in their jobs and overall work life after treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. In 2020 alone, more than 2.2 million people were diagnosed with it. Many patients are women between the ages of 25 and 54, which is when most people are building their careers.
The good news is that breast cancer survival rates are high, especially in wealthier countries where more than 90% of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis.
Because so many women with breast cancer are still young and working, researchers wanted to know if their treatment helps them stay in the workforce. This is especially important because serious illness often causes people to lose their jobs or work less, which can lead to financial problems.
The study, titled “Do Medical Treatments Work for Work? Evidence from Breast Cancer Patients,” was published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. The research team used information from nearly 40,000 Danish women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1990 and 1998.
They focused on a change in Denmark’s medical guidelines in 1995 that allowed more women to receive radiation therapy. This gave the researchers a chance to compare women who received radiation therapy with those who did not, without other factors interfering.
The results were impressive. Women who received radiation therapy were 35% less likely to die within 10 years of their diagnosis. That alone is a powerful reason to support its use. But the study found even more good news: these women were also more likely to still be working 10 years later.
In fact, women who had radiation therapy were 37% more likely to be employed 10 years after their diagnosis. Not only that, but they were also earning more—on average, 45% more than women who did not get radiation therapy. These benefits suggest that radiation therapy not only helps women survive but also helps them live fuller, more productive lives.
The researchers say these findings are important for health policy. The main goal of cancer treatment is, of course, to save lives.
But this study shows that treatments like radiation therapy can also help patients keep working and avoid the long-term financial stress that often comes with serious illness. Even in Denmark, where everyone has access to healthcare and social support, these economic benefits are clear.
As the cost of cancer treatment rises around the world, it’s important for governments and health planners to think about both the health and financial effects of treatment. This study makes a strong case for including long-term economic outcomes in decisions about which treatments to support and fund.
In conclusion, radiation therapy for breast cancer saves lives and supports long-term work and income. It helps women return to normal life after a cancer diagnosis—not just surviving, but thriving. By investing in treatments that offer both health and financial benefits, we can improve the future for millions of patients.
If you care about breast cancer, please read studies about how eating patterns help ward off breast cancer, and soy and plant compounds may prevent breast cancer recurrence.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how your grocery list can help guard against caner, and a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
The study is published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.
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