Abstract. The purpose of this case study was to describe how the return-to-work process evolved in an employee with cancer
in the Netherlands and how a work-directed intervention supported this process. The patient was a 35-year old female employee
diagnosed with cervix carcinoma. After surgery, the patient experienced depression, fatigue, fear of recurrence, and low mental
working capacity. Communication with the occupational physician was difficult. A social worker at the hospital provided three
counselling sessions aimed to support return to work and sent letters to the occupational physician to improve the communication.
The support by the social worker helped the patient to resume work gradually and the sending of information from the treating
physician and social worker improved the communication with the occupational physician. This resulted in the patient being able
to achieve lasting return to work. This work-directed intervention was highly valued by the patient and could be an important
addition to usual psycho-oncological care for employees with cancer.