More than twice as many people who have battled breast cancer are returning to work after short term disability leave, according to internal data from Unum, the leading provider of disability benefits through the workplace.

In 2009, nearly 64 percent of people on short term disability leave due to breast cancer returned to work, a number that has climbed steadily from 28.8 percent in 2001. The encouraging increase likely signals improved treatments and outcomes for many people fighting breast cancer, said Cheryl Greaney, vice president of Medical Operations for Unum. 

“The people behind these numbers are facing some of the most difficult times in their lives, and the ability to return to work offers a sense of normalcy and routine that can be truly beneficial,” she said.

“Increases in early detection coupled with newer approaches have reduced severity of treatment for many early stage breast cancers. Many of the newer chemotherapy agents are more targeted, although not free from side effects, and can be easier to tolerate than agents typically used 5 to 10 years ago,” Ms. Greaney said. 

The trend is different, however, for those on long term disability leave due to breast cancer. After rising gradually for several years, the percentage who returned to work leveled off and then fell. In 2001, 47 percent returned to work. That number climbed to a high of 54.8 percent in 2006, then dropped to 50.1 percent by 2009.

“The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but this trend may be influenced by some of the same factors that have improved success in returning to work for people on short term disability,” Ms. Greaney said. “As treatments become more effective and outcomes improve for many with earlier stage disease, the pool of people who eventually move to long term disability may necessarily be those who have later stage cancer and as a result require more aggressive, debilitating treatments.”

Through research and education, Unum offers employers guidance on how they can support workers through cancer diagnosis and treatment, and help those employees return successfully to the workplace.

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month sheds important light on this battle that hundreds of thousands of people wage each year,” Ms. Greaney said. “As a leading provider of employee benefits, we see every day the difference disability and critical illness coverage can make in supporting people through this fight.”

Cancer is consistently the leading cause of Unum long term disability claims, accounting for about 15 percent of claims each year. Breast cancer is leading type, at about 22 percent of long term disability cancer claims.

Almost seven percent of Unum short-term disability claims are prompted by cancer, and breast cancer is the leading type at 17 percent of short term disability cancer claims.