Annual Report 2017
Division of Cancer Survivorship Research
Miyako Takahashi, Miyako Tsuchiya, Asuka Kato, Akiko Kimata, Makiko Tomita, Makiko Tazaki, Yoshinori Takata, Kyoko Onozawa, Mayumi Saito
Introduction
The missions of the Division of Cancer Survivorship Research are to enhance the quality of life of people with cancer and their caregivers, and to promote social awareness in Japan about cancer survivorship issues.
Our team and what we do
As for academic research, we deal with various survivorship-related issues experienced by cancer survivors and their caregivers during and after treatments such as employment, interpersonal relationships, prejudice against cancer, life-style modifications, and implementation and dissemination of research evidence into community settings. In particular, we examine the influence of the Japanese socio-cultural background and health policies on living with, through, and beyond cancer, and try to propose countermeasures based on the research findings.
As for activities to promote social awareness toward cancer survivorship, we plan and implement educational programs listed in academia/training for the general public as well as healthcare providers.
In addition to the above mentioned activities, Dr. Miyako Takahashi, Division Chief, served as a member of an expert council organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and contributed in creating a guidebook titled "Hiring People with Cancer " for business people.
Research activities
Research projects we conducted in 2017 include "cancer and work (for both adult and childhood/AYA generations)", "creating a website to support AYA cancer survivors", "development of cancer-related stigma scale", "health promotion intervention using a leaflet", and so on.
This year, we published three research articles in English, 10 research articles in Japanese, and five book chapters in Japanese. Also, we conducted four educational lectures, four symposium presentations, and 20 oral/poster presentations at academic meetings.
In addition to the above achievements, we managed the Internet portal site for business people on supporting working cancer patients and survivors.
Education
As for education and academic lectures, we delivered 25 lectures in 2017 in answer to requests from universities, academic organizations, national and local governments, and medical institutions nationwide.
As for promoting social awareness of cancer survivorship, we planned and implemented three lecture series, "Community Center Café", "Gotochi (Local) Café", and "Cancer Survivorship Open Seminar", which were open to the public. The Community Center Café programs were held in a relaxed atmosphere with a cup of tea, consisted of a lecture that takes up various cancer survivorship topics followed by a small group discussion by participants. It provided participants with an opportunity to learn about cancer survivorship issues as well as exchange views with each other. In 2017, we held The Community Center Café two times with 120 participants in total at the Tsukishima Community Center in Chuo ward, where the National Cancer Center (NCC) is located. The Gotochi (Local) Café, the other café program, has the same structure as the Community Center Cafe, but was co-sponsored by our division and healthcare providers from prefectures outside of Tokyo, and focused on high priority survivorship issues within the local community. In 2017, we held the Gotochi Café in Fukui and Aomori, in which 180 people participated in total. The "Cancer Survivorship Open Seminar", held in the National Cancer Center Tsukiji campus, is a lecture series by researchers and focuses more on academic aspects of survivorship issues. In 2017, we held the seminar five times on "AYA cancer", "cancer rehabilitation", "diet and mental health", "lymphedema", and "appearance care", in which approximately 600 healthcare providers and survivors participated in total. The records of all cafés and seminars are presented to the public via division homepage.
Future prospects
Cancer survivorship research and care practice are indispensable in creating a society where we can live in peace after having cancer. Our division will conduct research on various cancer survivorship issues and propose countermeasures for them. We plan to develop activities in cooperation with domestic and international researchers and practitioners.
List of papers published in January 2017 - March 2018
Journal
1. Sakai H, Katsumata N, Takahashi M. Providing written information increases patient satisfaction: a web-based questionnaire survey of Japanese cancer survivors. Jpn J Clin Oncol, 47:611-617, 2017
2. Tomita M, Takahashi M, Tagaya N, Kakuta M, Kai I, Muto T. Structural equation modeling of the relationship between posttraumatic growth and psychosocial factors in women with breast cancer. Psychooncology, 26:1198-1204, 2017
3. Takahashi M, Tsuchiya M, Horio Y, Funazaki H, Aogi K, Miyauchi K, Arai Y. Job resignation after cancer diagnosis among working survivors in Japan: timing, reasons and change of information needs over time. Jpn J Clin Oncol, 48:43-51, 2018