OBJECTIVES: This study aims to quantify the productivity costs of premature abandonment of work market of women living with advanced breast cancer (ABC) as well as to evaluate possible labour market policies designed to promote employment

METHODS: The analysis is based on (i) an original cumulative incidence model that allows estimation of the prevalence of working-aged women with ABC in 2019 and on (ii) an observational study that characterises the employment status and working conditions of patients with ABC in Portugal. To determine productivity costs, the human capital approach was adopted.

RESULTS: A total of 2,151 working-aged women were estimated to have ABC in 2019, with productivity costs amounting to 28,676,754€ over the period 2019-2021. Moreover, government transfers (unemployment subsidies and disability pensions) were estimated to be 3,468,866€.

A subsidised part-time employment policy designed to encourage women with ABC to continue working was modelled. The estimated increased cost of this policy is 11,951,048€ over a three-year period, allowing a reduction of 14,338,377€ in productivity costs, leading to a positive balance of 2,431,329€ over the same period.

CONCLUSIONS: These results call for changes in labour market laws to enable all patients living with metastatic cancers the right to choose part-time and/or flexible working, without depending on the employer permission as currently stated in the law.