Peace of Mind in Cancer Care

With the advancement of cancer treatment, the importance of supportive care, which sustains patients’ quality of life (QOL), has become not a peripheral topic in medicine but a central issue. Through my own involvement in cancer supportive care, I have experienced struggles, gained insights, and received support. With these sentiments in mind, I am honored to announce that the 11th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (JASCC26) will be held on May 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun), 2026, at the Toyama Prefectural Civic Center.

We have chosen Toyama Prefecture—historically known as a center of pharmaceutical production and home to a tradition of medicine peddling—as the host site for JASCC26. It is a great honor to hold this meeting in Toyama, watched over the majestic Tateyama mountain range, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient advocacy groups from across the nation.

In 2023, cancer accounted for 24.3% of all deaths in Japan, with an annual death toll of 382,000. Thanks to progress in cancer care, treatment has shifted from inpatient to outpatient settings, reducing the average hospital stay from 36 days in 2002 to 20 days in 2020. Japan’s 4th Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control emphasizes the timely provision of palliative care from the time of diagnosis, the assurance of high-quality rehabilitation, the establishment of coordinated systems for home-based cancer care, and the provision of training opportunities for healthcare professionals to improve the QOL of patients and their families. Because supportive care in cancer is an interdisciplinary field, it requires diverse professionals to bring their specialized perspectives and collaboratively offer flexible approaches to problem-solving.

At JASCC26, we will comprehensively discuss physical, psychological, and social care for cancer patients and their families. We will also explore practical support methods tailored to the diverse treatment approaches of today, and consider how to build networks among healthcare providers that can sustain such support. With a special focus on emotional support, we have chosen “Peace of Mind” as the theme of this annual meeting. In addition to the latest research presentations, symposia, workshops, panel discussions, case studies, and special programs, we will organize expert-led educational sessions on “Peace of Mind.” Emotional care is something healthcare professionals themselves may also need at times. Through this meeting, we hope to inspire courage and positivity among patients, families, and all participants.

We sincerely hope you enjoy the discussions at this meeting and that they contribute to the further advancement of supportive cancer care. After the conference, we also hope you will take time to enjoy all that Toyama has to offer.

We look forward to welcoming you to Toyama.