2022 Volume 59 Issue 5 Pages 331-337
The third-term Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs, formulated in 2018 in Japan, includes cancer control measures for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The annual number of new cancer cases among AYAs (aged 15–39 years) is approximately 20,000, which is higher than the number of childhood cancer cases (approximately 2,000), but accounts for only about 2% of the total (approximately 1 million cases) in Japan. The distribution of cancer types varies according to the age group of the AYAs, with a mix of childhood and adult cancers, including leukemia in those aged 15–19 years; ovarian, testicular, and thyroid cancers in those in their 20s; and breast, cervical, and digestive cancers in those in their 30s. In addition, AYA patients need support in various aspects, including not only cancer treatment but also oncofertility care, education, and employment. Despite the smaller number of AYA patients than of adult patients, the treatment and management of AYA patients are not well centralized, making it difficult for medical staff to accumulate experience in treatment and consultation support. Since the 2000s, cancer control measures for AYAs have been actively pursued in Europe and the USA. In Japan, research and support initiatives have started in recent years, but specific measures at the community and hospital levels are still required. In Osaka Prefecture, the Osaka Cancer Association established the Child/AYA subcommittee in 2011. This subcommittee conducts surveys on cancer in AYAs using data from the Osaka Cancer Registry, and it provides information on oncofertility care and support in school attendance of cancer patients. In this article, we review the current status of cancer care in AYAs in Japan and the efforts being made nationally and in Osaka Prefecture.
