RATIONALE: Finding out which problems affect employment in survivors of gynecologic cancer may help in planning cancer treatment and improve the quality of life of future cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at ways to improve employment in patients who have survived cervical cancer, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• Conduct formative work, including 4 to 5 focus groups, leading to development of a structured interview instrument assessing factors related to employment outcomes among women with gynecologic cancers.
• Pilot a recruitment strategy and administer the interview among a sample of 60 to 70 gynecologic cancer survivors; and, with each woman's permission, a family member, a key health care provider, and her supervisor will be interviewed.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, pilot study.

Patients complete a survey, meet with a focus group, and undergo a short interview. Patient-designated participants are also interviewed; these individuals may include a health care provider, a significant other, and/or a work supervisor.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 70 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of 1 of the following invasive cancers:

  • Cervical cancer
  • Uterine cancer
  • Ovarian cancer

• Diagnosed ≥ 6 months ago

• Any stage disease

• Employed at the time of diagnosis, defined as working for pay ≥ 20 hours/week

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified