Rural cancer patients in Vermont are more likely to retire early, less likely to go on paid disability

Rural cancer patients in Vermont are 66 percent more likely to retire at an earlier age than their urban counterparts after receiving treatment, and are 33 percent less likely to go on paid disability during treatment, finds a study by the University of Vermont published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship. The study was conducted exclusively in Vermont, with the information based on 1,555 cancer survivors in the state.

"This disparity is ascribed to the fact that rural populations tend to engage in more physically demanding jobs," says a news release from Springer, which publishes the magazine. "The types of manual labor available in rural areas rarely offer disability benefits, and therefore increase the impact of cancer diagnosis for this population. According to the Department of Labor, only 33 percent of persons employed in manual labor jobs are offered short-term disability and only 21 percent are offered long-term disability as part of their benefits. In contrast, more than half of all management or professional workers are offered some form of disability."

Lead author Michelle Snowdwn wrote: “Providers who care for rural patients must recognize that these patients may be at an increased risk for financial impact. Cancer care for these patients should incorporate counselling services related to returning to work after active treatment and assistance related to disability. It is possible that survivorship programs could lead this charge, with employment counseling becoming a standard part of this post-treatment phase of care.” (Read more)