Annual Report 2019
Consultation, Counseling and Support Service Center
Masashi Kato, Satoru Iwasa, Kayoko Miyata, Natsuko Moroi, Rieko Shimizu, Naoko Matsunaga, Miho Koitabashi, Mariko Shimizu, Mari Arai, Masako Yabumoto, Kazuko Kasahara, Tomoko Asayama, Reiko Hanada, Fumiko Onishi
Introduction
The Consultation, Counseling and Support Service Center (CCSSC) copes with inquiries from patients, their families and citizens with variety of needs and concerns related to cancer. The total number of inquiries from April 2019 to March 2020 was 11,371. The number of new cases was 5,455, of which 2,997 were patients registered in the NCC hospital. We deal with various problems related to cancer patients and their families with the ultimate aim of helping patients feel relaxed and to help them receive medical care.
The Team and What We Do
We work as multidisciplinary team with physicians, nurses, medical social workers, and clinical psychologist. We provide:
1. Consultation, Counseling and Support Services
Both face-to-face and telephone counseling are available. Any inquiries related to cancer such as cancer treatment and financial, social and psychological issues are willingly accepted. We also endeavor to support some special cases such as job seeking and infertility issues. Since 2013 we have cooperated with a “Hello Work Navigator,” job-finding advisor, and Social Insurance Labor Consultants to help cancer patients find new jobs and provide professional advice regarding the compatibility of cancer treatment and work. Moreover, we have set up a hotline for young adult patients concerned with the impact of cancer treatment on fertility.
2. Group programs for patients and their families
3. Multidisciplinary team support beyond departments
4. Collaborative support with other hospitals and institutions
Research activities
Research into employment support for cancer patients is conducted.
Education
We lecture and act as facilitators in seminars to help educate Cancer Counseling and Support Specialists
Future prospects
We practice high-quality cancer counseling and support, develop models and spread the results throughout the whole county.