ABSTRACT
For most people, illness and treatment had made little difference to their economic activity; nonetheless, in a small number of instances, there was reduction in income, mainly because of loss of job. All the increased spending was directly related to illness and treatment. Patients were asked what impact illness and treatment had made on job performance, at the time of first interview, shortly after surgery. The period during which the clinical condition had existed before surgery was undertaken varied from patient to patient. Clear trends are slightly blurred by the fact that for a small number of patients this was not their first occurrence of cancer or their first episode of treatment, but rather a stage in a longer process. For a small number of patients the response and treatment had been almost immediate. At first interview, patients were asked what impact illness and treatment had made on income.
