OBJECTIVE: Disabilities resulting from breast cancer (BC) treatment often reduce the quality of daily life and affect working and social life. This study investigated the residual work ability in a cohort of female healthcare workers (HCWs) suffering from BC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study analysed a cohort of female HCW’s operating at a hospital in Southern Italy. Each HCW underwent a medical examination and routine laboratory tests and a questionnaire on the Work Ability Index (WAI)

RESULTS: Out of the 663 (100%) HCW’s undergoing health surveillance, 6% (n=40) had been affected by BC; however, only 75% (n=30) agreed to join the study. 23 (77%) worked night shifts. The average number of days of absence from work was 155.8 ±205.4 days in nurses/technicians and 128.2 ±239.7 days for doctors/biologists. The WAI score was very low in 2 (7%) cases; moderate in 9 (30%) cases, good in 7 (23%) cases and excellent in 12 (40%) HCW’s. The nursing/technical staff has lower WAI scores than the other health figures. Arm/shoulder pain, numbness, limited mobility in the upper limbs and lymphoedema were the main comorbidities reported by HCW’s which affected WAI score.

CONCLUSIONS: A greater absence from work was observed in nurses and technicians compared to doctors/biologists, also justified by the different professional risks that see them perform a physically more demanding job, i.e. manual handling of loads. WAI showed lower scores in nurses/technicians than in doctors/biologists. Morbidity in the upper limbs is one of the main complications that can negatively affect any work activity. This seems to affect the return to work, evident in sick leave days and in the ability to perform tasks.