Preface
The National Cancer Center Hospital East, established
as a result of a merger of The National Kashiwa and The National Sanitarium
Matsudo Hospitals, was opened on July 1, 1992, in Kashiwa city, Chiba,
about 30 kilometers north-east of Tokyo. The Hospital has 425 beds and
consists of 8 clinical divisions. Its main aim is the development of new
techniques for diagnosis and treatment of refractory cancers, such as those
of the lung, liver and pancreatobiliary system. In addition, there is a
focus on clinical practice and research on the treatment of cancers involving
the digestive tract, head and neck, breast, hematopoietic system and bone
and soft tissue. Unique to this hospital is a special emphasis on quality
of life (QOL) for cancer patients, with active clinical research on the
improvement of patient QOL, and the establishment of the Palliative Care
Unit (PCU) annexed to the main building, in which staff are devoted to
alleviating the distress of terminally ill cancer patients. This innovation
was the first departure from the models for National Hospitals and is expected
to be a model for similar facilities in the future.
In April 1994, The National Cancer Center Research Institute
East was opened at this Kashiwa Campus. This was the starting point of
collaboration between staff members in the Research Institute and the Hospital.
Many joint projects are now ongoing in the fields of surgical pathology,
tumor biology, developmental therapeutics, psycho-oncology and clinical
epidemiology.
As of January 1, 1998, the hospital staff included 56
consultant physicians, 8 pharmacists, 34 technicians, 230 nurses and 44
residents. In 1997, we took care of 94,298 outpatients including 7,161
newcomers and 4,895 inpatients including 1,624 cases who underwent surgery
under general anesthesia. The number of patients has increased over the
last year, due to shorter inpatient hospital stays, although there has
been little increase in the numbers of medical and auxiliary staff. Nevertheless,
all employees are making their best effort to respond to the expanding
demands of this increasing number of patients. Having overcome many difficulties
and challenges since the initial opening of the Hospital, we are now confident
that the National Cancer Center Hospital East has established a firm reputation
as a highly active and well integrated Cancer Center Hospital. A number
of the papers listed on the following pages were published in various international
journals in 1997.
In April 1997, The National Cancer Center Hospital East
became only the second hospital worldwide to have proton therapy equipment,
clinical trials of which are scheduled to start in April, 1998. This modality
will provide better treatment for refractory cancers such as those of the
lung and liver, as well as cancers of the head and neck, brain, and prostate.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the
support we have received from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, other
governmental organizations, private organizations, individuals and the
Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research. In addition, I am grateful
for the diligence of my colleagues in the hospital who have devoted their
efforts and talents to publishing this report.
March, 1998
Satoshi Ebihara, M.D.
Director, National Cancer Center Hospital East
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