Cancer Screening in Japan

Political Factors

Economic Factors

Social Factors

- Government initiatives and subsidies of diagnostic tests (pays up to 90% of breast cancer screening fees)

- Participation in the national health insurance program is mandatory

- Government wants to increase prevention to reduce health-related costs

- 2012: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare budgeted 35.7 billion yen for cancer control (6.6 times the budget before the 2004 3rd 10-year strategy

- Low health care costs

- Free-per-service system and typically low out-of-pocket expenses

- High-utilization of health services

- The health care system is unsustainable in the future due to aging population (erosion of tax base)

- Budget constraints due to over-indebtedness

- The health care system is mainly budgeted by taxes, fees collected from employers and co-payments

- Between 2005 and 2007, breast cancer awareness increased from 55% to 70%

- High life expectancy (Japan has the oldest population in the world) and likelihood to die from degenerative diseases like cancer

- 1 in 2 Japanese might be diagnosed with cancer during his/her life

- Cancer is leading cause of death in Japan

- Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for women

- In most cases, cancer was detected after stage IIc 

- Preference for collectivistic appeals

Technological Factors

Legal Factors

Environmental Factors

- Mammography screening (breast X-ray)

- Breast self-examination

- 90% of breast cancer can be cured, with early detection and treatment

- Medical interview

- 1984: “Comprehensive 10-year strategy for cancer control” (completed by others pieces of legislation in 1994 and 2004)

- Women over 40 are officially recommended to have mammography screening every 2 years

- Cancer Control Act law of 2007 and the initiative for “50% Cancer Screening Rate”

- Animal studies in the laboratories

- Study on humans

*the ideas are taking from the internet