The paper deals with the analysis of dynamics of working activity of 146 radically treated gastric cancer patients examined by the Oncological Commission for Ability Expertise of Novosibirsk in 1984-1988 and then followed for 2-5 years. The percentage of patients returning to work was the highest during the first and third years posttreatment. This was attributed to extension of temporary invalidity period and rehabilitation of group 2 invalids, respectively. Lethality among patients returning to work was 8.2 +/- 2.3% as compared to 62.6 +/- 2.5% in a group of 385 patients who did not work. Labor activity did not adversely influence the clinical course of disease. The unfavorable course was attributed to biological properties of tumor such as low degree of differentiation and infiltrative pattern of growth.