Cancer survivorship care: challenges and opportunities in Japan.

This article discusses the current international scope and practices of cancer survivorship care and the challenges and opportunities of survivorship care in Japan. Cancer is a common illness in Japan; however, the national cancer control plan focuses only on limited survivorship-related issues, and there is no official national-level survivorship care strategy that addresses the diverse unmet needs of survivors. There is an urgent need to discuss and implement measures for quality survivorship care delivery under the current healthcare system in Japan.

Screening practices of cancer survivors and individuals whose family or friends had a cancer diagnoses-a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Japan (INFORM Study 2020).

Purpose: We examined cancer screening practices and related beliefs in cancer survivors and individuals with family or close friends with a cancer diagnosis compared to individuals without the above cancer history for 5 population-based (gastric, colorectal, lung, breast, cervical) and 1 opportunistic (prostate) cancer screenings using nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Japan.

Methods: We analyzed 3269 data from 3605 respondents (response rate, 37.1%) and compared the screening beliefs and practices of cancer survivors (n = 391), individuals with family members (n = 1674), and close friends with a cancer diagnosis (n = 685) to those without any cancer history (n = 519).

Incidence and predictors of recurrent sick leave in survivors who returned to work after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Background: Although rather favorable probabilities of return to work have been reported after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), survivors often have difficulty continuing to work because of their immunocompromised status and diverse late effects after allo-HCT. We evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for recurrent sick leave in allo-HCT survivors after they initially returned to work.

Methods: We targeted allo-HCT survivors who were employed at diagnosis, aged 20-64 at survey, and survived for ≥ 2 years without relapse.

Resignation and return to work in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation close up.

Purpose: To characterize the issues regarding work and employment specific to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) survivors, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Methods: We targeted allo-HCT survivors employed at diagnosis, aged 20-64 at survey, and survived ≥2 years without relapse. The questionnaire included the timing of and reasons for resignation (termination of employment contract), and patient-related, HCT-related, work-related, and HCT center-related factors.

COVID-19 Patient Returned to Work after Long Hospitalization and Follow-up: A Case Report.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes severe respiratory dysfunction and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which can significantly affect the return to work after discharge from the hospital. This report describes the first case of a patient with severe COVID-19 at our institution during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to June 2020) who returned to work following rehabilitation management.

Case: A 48-year-old female nurse was admitted with COVID-19 and underwent mechanical ventilation (MV).

Cross-cultural validation of the Cancer Stigma Scale in the general Japanese population.

Background: The stigma associated with cancer has negative impacts on cancer patients as well as the general public, who have a potential risk of cancer. To the best of our knowledge, a validated measure to assess cancer stigma among the general Japanese population does not exist.

Method: We translated the Cancer Stigma Scale (CASS) - a 25-item self-administered scale to evaluate stigma related to cancer - into Japanese and examined its psychometric properties.

Impact of gender and employment type on job loss among cancer survivors.

Objective: To identify factors associated with cancer-related job loss following cancer diagnosis.

Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult cancer survivors employed at the time of cancer diagnosis. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association of gender and employment type with job loss after cancer diagnosis and if the interaction between gender and employment type predicted job loss.

[Current Status and Challenges of Work-Related Issues among Cancer Patients].

The 5-year relative survival rate of cancer patients in Japan has reached 62.1% owing to advances in cancer treatments. Half of the people are diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, and one-third of cancer patients belong to the working-age generation between the ages of 20 and 65.

Effects of a structured group intervention on obesity among breast cancer survivors.

Background: Obesity is associated with an increased risk for developing breast cancer and poor cancer-related outcomes. Endocrine therapy is a key part of treatment for breast cancer, but can result in weight gain. This study examined the efficacy of a structured group intervention during adjuvant endocrine therapy for obese patients with breast cancer.

[Perceptions toward Employment and Support Needs in Medical Institutions and Workplace among AYA Cancer Survivors].

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study to explore perceptions of employment, job-related help-seeking behaviors at the time of cancer diagnosis, illness disclosure at the workplace, and support needs for continuous employment among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. The mean age at the time of cancer diagnosis was 27.8(range, 15-37) years.

Information-seeking, information sources and ongoing support needs after discharge to prevent cancer-related lymphoedema.

Objectives: To compare gynaecological and breast cancer patients in their information-seeking behaviours, usefulness of information sources and ongoing care needs after discharge to prevent the onset of lymphoedema.

Methods: We conducted a consecutive cross-sectional survey in an oncology hospital. Adult patients with stage I, II or III gynaecological or breast cancer who had undergone lymph node dissection and had not been diagnosed with lymphoedema were eligible for inclusion.

Knowledge, fatigue, and cognitive factors as predictors of lymphoedema risk-reduction behaviours in women with cancer.

Objective: To identify social-cognitive factors predicting lymphoedema risk-reduction behaviours (hereafter, self-care) after discharge among patients in Japan with breast or gynaecological cancers, using the extended model of the theory of planned behaviour.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in an oncology hospital. Items measured were (1) knowledge about self-care; (2) the Cancer Fatigue Scale; (3) social-cognitive factors in the theory of planned behaviour (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control); (4) self-care (limb hygiene, observation, articular movement, recommended risk-reduction behaviours in daily life, and diet and weight control); and (5) demographics.

Community-based lymphedema risk reduction programs for cancer survivors: An Internet survey of public health nurses.

Aim: Currently, there is no provision for continuous care to monitor lymphedema risk-reduction behavior for survivors of cancer. The aim was to explore the possibility of community-based lymphedema education programs by investigating the knowledge, training needs, and intention to organize such programs and barriers among government-employed public health nurses.

Methods: A cross-sectional Internet survey was conducted among government-employed public health nurses in Japan.

Job resignation after cancer diagnosis among working survivors in Japan: timing, reasons and change of information needs over time.

Objective: Despite advances in work-related policies for cancer survivors, support systems for working survivors in healthcare settings in Japan remain underdeveloped. We aimed to reveal (i) the present situation of cancer survivors' job resignation, the timing of resignation, and reasons for resignation; (ii) healthcare providers' screening behaviors of cancer survivors' work-related difficulties and (iii) changes to cancer survivors' information/support needs over time since diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample of re-visiting outpatients at three cancer centers in Japan in 2015.

Distress from changes in physical appearance and support through information provision in male cancer patients.

Objective: This study aims to reveal the present situation of changes in physical appearance induced by treatment, the effects of these changes on social activities, and support from medical staff in male cancer patients.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 949 male patients (response rate: 90.1%) visiting the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo over 3 days in January 2015.

Providing written information increases patient satisfaction: a web-based questionnaire survey of Japanese cancer survivors.

Purpose: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the United States recommends that all cancer survivors be provided with a survivorship care plan (SCP), which includes a patient treatment summary and a follow-up care plan. However, SCPs have not been widely adopted in Japan. To provide basic data necessary for implementing SCPs in Japan, we aimed to investigate the forms of clinical and survivorship-related information that Japanese cancer survivors receive from their healthcare providers, and to examine whether written information increases their satisfaction.

[Work-Related Issues of Adolescent and Young Adult(AYA)Cancer Survivors - Tips for Supporting Them in and out of Hospitals].

Recent advances in cancer treatment have steadily improved the overall survival rate, and enhancing the quality of life of cancer survivors is the challenge faced at present. One of the major topics in studies on cancer survivors is work-related issues, and the government has been focusing on improving the circumstances of the working population and children. In 2015, the Cancer Control Accelerating Plan set adolescent and young adult(AYA)cancer survivors as the top priority for this plan.

Structural equation modeling of the relationship between posttraumatic growth and psychosocial factors in women with breast cancer.

Objective: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a positive psychological change occurring after struggling with a highly challenging experience. The purposes of this study were to investigate how women's demographic and clinical characteristics as well as psychosocial factors are associated with PTG and to reveal the influence of PTG on depressive symptoms.

Methods: Participants were 157 women with breast cancer (BC) who attended a breast oncology clinic at a university hospital in Japan.

Cancer survivorship: current status of research, care, and policy in Japan.

Progress in early detection and treatment has been changing cancer into a chronic illness, and this has initiated an imperative shift in focus among healthcare providers, researchers and policy makers in many countries, including Japan, to cancer survivorship issues rather than mere survival. This article reviews the history of the cancer survivorship concept and examines how the concept has been integrated into cancer policy in Japan. It also discusses the characteristics of survivorship research and briefly reviews the current status of research and care, both in Japan and globally, regarding five important survivorship topics: developing measures for long-term complications and delayed effects, interpersonal relationships, lifestyle modifications and health promotion, sexuality and fertility, and work-related issues.

[Survey of Information Sharing Related to the Occupational Considerations of Working Cancer Patients Between Occupational Physicians and Treating Physicians].

Objective: Although a vital element in providing career support to workers with medical ailments is coordination between the worker, the treating physician, and the company (the occupational health staff), little is known about factors that promote or impede coordination between these parties. This study aims to demonstrate what kinds of actions by treating physicians promote or impede the occupational considerations made by occupational physicians.

Methods: A total of 43 occupational physicians who had completed the postgraduate training course (4 years) at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan and were current or former instructors at the Occupational Health Training Center were surveyed using a self-reported questionnaire form.

Marriage and fertility in long-term survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult (AYA) high-grade sarcoma.

Purpose: We investigated the marital status and the presence or absence of children in survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult (AYA) high-grade sarcoma and examined the influence of these factors on the quality of life (QOL) of these survivors.

Methods: Thirty-eight survivors of childhood and AYA high-grade sarcoma (18 males, 20 females) participated in a questionnaire survey on marital status and presence or absence of children, as well as on the health-related QOL (HR-QOL), using the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Diagnoses among these survivors were osteosarcoma (28 participants), Ewing's sarcoma (4 participants), synovial sarcoma (4 participants) and others (2 participants).