Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research 2008-2207 19 2 2025 04 20 118 125 Lahya Afshari Saleh Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Occupational Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Taha Khorashadizadeh Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Soodabeh Shahid Sales Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hamed Tabesh Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Ehsan Rafeemanesh Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hossein Zakeri Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2024 04 07 2025 03 02 Background: Return to work (RTW) significantly impacts the quality of life of cancer survivors and carries substantial economic and social implications. This study investigates the RTW rate among colorectal cancer patients post-surgery. Materials and Methods: Colorectal cancer patients referred to the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences oncology clinics were enrolled based on inclusion criteria and after obtaining oral consent. Each participant completed a checklist and a questionnaire on the quality of working life for colorectal cancer patients. The checklist included age, gender, insurance type, annual income, marital status, occupation, hospitalization duration, medical history, occupational profile, health status, and disease stage. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: A total of 57 patients were included, with 54 (94.7%) males. Forty-four patients (77.2%) returned to work in their previous or new roles. Among these, 27 (47.4%) worked full-time, 17 (29.8%) part-time, and 13 (22.8%) did not RTW. No significant relationship was found between RTW and factors such as age (p=0.116), gender (p=0.547), residence (p=0.333), insurance type (p=0.083), job type (p=0.526), history of chronic diseases (p=0.432), or cancer treatment method (p>0.999). However, significant correlations were observed between RTW and the quality of life questionnaire score (p=0.001), length of hospitalization (p=0.041), and annual income (p<0.001). Conclusion: Approximately 77% of colorectal cancer patients returned to work following treatment. Shorter hospital stays and higher income were associated with greater RTW rates. Additionally, the quality of working life questionnaire score was strongly correlated with RTW (p=0.001). https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/2218 https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/download/2218/1077