{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]],"date-time":"2026-04-11T06:31:08Z","timestamp":1775889068883,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770940800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Seeds4Hope","award":["819275"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["819275"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    As cancer survival rates increase in Canada, a growing number of working-age individuals face challenges returning to work after treatment. This study examines the experiences of Canadian cancer survivors who remained in or returned to the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were cancer survivors aged 25\u221262 who had been employed prior to their diagnosis. They completed a brief online survey about their return-to-work (RTW) experiences and were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Seven participants took part in the interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Four overarching themes emerged: (1\n                    <jats:italic>)<\/jats:italic>\n                    The Perfect Storm of Systemic Challenges, highlighting healthcare barriers exacerbated by the pandemic; (2) You Are Not Alone, emphasizing the importance of social support in mitigating isolation; (3) One Size Does Not Fit All \u2013 Individual Journeys\n                    <jats:italic>,<\/jats:italic>\n                    reflecting the need for flexible workplace accommodations and patient self-advocacy; and (4) Creating a \u201cNew Normal,\u201d illustrating how survivors reassessed priorities, work identities, and personal well-being. Participants described delayed treatments, lack of fertility options, and limited support during appointments due to pandemic restrictions. Workplace accommodations varied, with some survivors feeling supported while others faced inflexibility. Findings emphasized the need for improved healthcare responsiveness, personalized RTW accommodations, and improved employer training to support cancer survivors. The study also reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing systemic gaps, underscoring the importance of preparing healthcare and employment systems to better support vulnerable populations during times of crisis.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0342935","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T18:26:50Z","timestamp":1771007210000},"page":"e0342935","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Redefining \u2018normal\u2019: A Canadian case study of cancer survivors\u2019 experiences remaining and\/or returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4875-2335","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Carolyn","family":"Tran","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Debbie","family":"Kane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dale","family":"Rajacich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kathryn","family":"Lafreniere","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1326-2088","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Caroline","family":"Hamm","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0342935.ref001","author":"Canadian Cancer 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