Evaluating Japan’s cancer control activities - Findings from the third cancer patient experience survey

Q: What was the purpose of the study evaluating Japan’s cancer control activities?

The study assessed patient experiences with cancer care in Japan to identify strengths and gaps across patient groups, including rare cancers and people under 40, to inform future policy development.

Q: How was the survey conducted and who participated?

A nationwide cross-sectional, self-administered mail questionnaire ran from December 2023 to March 2024. Eligible participants were sampled from the national database of Hospital-Based Cancer Registries, and 11,247 eligible responses were analyzed.

Q: What key gaps did patients report despite high overall ratings?

Patients rated care highly on average, but only 55.0% knew about Cancer Counseling and Support Centers and 15.4% were informed about peer support. Patients with rare cancers and those under 40 reported delayed diagnosis, difficulty accessing care, and greater psychosocial and financial burdens.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Olivia Brown

Nationwide patient experience survey findings evaluate cancer care in Japan under the National Cancer Control Plan, focusing on strengths and gaps across patient groups, including rare cancers and individuals aged under 40. A cross-sectional self-administered mail questionnaire was fielded from December 2023 to March 2024 using two-stage stratified random sampling from hospital-based cancer registries, analyzing 11,247 eligible responses. Patients rated overall care highly, yet awareness of Cancer Counseling and Support Centers was limited and peer support was rarely communicated, with younger and rare-cancer patients reporting delayed diagnosis and heavier psychosocial and financial burdens.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Study design

Development of the questionnaire

Supportive Care in Cancer (2026) 34:244 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10371-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10371-0) Evaluating Japan’s cancer control activities: Findings from the third cancer patient experience survey Yuichi Ichinose1,2,3 · Tsutomu Toida4 · Mariko Niino3 · Ryoko Rikitake1,3 · Yoko Yamamoto3 · Tomone Watanabe3 · Takafumi Wakita5 · Takahiro Higashi1,3 Received: 2 September 2025 / Accepted: 20 January 2026 / Published online: 24 February 2026 © The Author(s) 2026 Abstract Purpose In this study, we assessed patient experiences with cancer care in Japan as part of the national evaluation of the National Cancer Control Plan. We aimed to identify strengths and gaps in cancer care delivery across patient groups, including those with rare cancers and individuals aged < 40 years, to inform future policy development. Methods We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey between December 2023 and March 2024 using a self-administered mail questionnaire. Eligible participants were selected from the national database of Hospital-Based Cancer Registries using a two-stage stratified random sampling method. Among the 32,716 individuals invited, 11,247 eligible responses were analyzed. Sampling weights were applied to ensure national representativeness. Outcomes included overall ratings of care, information provision, access to care, symptom burden, psychosocial support, and socioeconomic issues. Results Patients rated the care they received highly (mean score = 8.2/10); however, notable gaps were identified. Only 55.0% of respondents were aware of the Cancer Counseling and Support Centers, and merely 15.4% were informed about peer support. Patients with rare cancers and those aged < 40 years faced delayed diagnosis, greater difficulty accessing care, and heavier psychosocial and financial burdens. Younger patients were more likely to report emotional distress and unmet informational needs regarding work-related issues than older patients. Conclusion Cancer care in Japan is generally well-received; however, significant challenges remain, particularly for younger patients and those with rare cancers. Increasing support service awareness and utilization, along with improved access pathways and targeted support for adolescent and young adult patients, are essential to promoting equitable and patient-centered cancer care under the revised Cancer Control Plan. Keywords Patient experience · AYA cancer · Rare cancer · Cancer care · Health services research · Survey * Yuichi Ichinose[yichinose@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp](yichinose@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp) Takahiro Higashi [higashi@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp](higashi@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp) 1 Department of Public Health and Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1 Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan 2 Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of Global Health Cooperation, Japan Institute for Health Security, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan 3 Institute for Cancer Control, Division of Health Services Research, National Cancer Center, Tsukiji 5-1-1 Chuo-Ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan 4 Faculty of Economics, Dokkyo University, Gakuen-Cho 1-1 Soka-Shi, Saitama 340-0042, Japan 5 Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University, Yamate-Cho 3-3-35 Suita-Shi, Osaka 564-8680, Japan Introduction Patient Experience Surveys (PESs) have recently gained increasing recognition as a key technique for evaluating healthcare quality [2]. These surveys provide critical insights for improving patient-centered care and informing health policy by capturing patients’ perspectives on various aspects of their care—such as communication with healthcare providers, decision-making involvement, and overall well-being. Many countries have incorporated patient experience into their cancer control strategies [1, 11]. In Japan, the emphasis on patient perspectives is engraved into the Cancer Control Act, which mandates that the National Cancer

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study evaluating Japan’s cancer control activities?

The study assessed patient experiences with cancer care in Japan to identify strengths and gaps across patient groups, including rare cancers and people under 40, to inform future policy development.

How was the survey conducted and who participated?

A nationwide cross-sectional, self-administered mail questionnaire ran from December 2023 to March 2024. Eligible participants were sampled from the national database of Hospital-Based Cancer Registries, and 11,247 eligible responses were analyzed.

What key gaps did patients report despite high overall ratings?

Patients rated care highly on average, but only 55.0% knew about Cancer Counseling and Support Centers and 15.4% were informed about peer support. Patients with rare cancers and those under 40 reported delayed diagnosis, difficulty accessing care, and greater psychosocial and financial burdens.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Olivia Brown