The implementation of cancer survivorship care for Japanese expats and those families in a private clinic in Shanghai

Abstract

Background: Our clinic offers medical treatment to Japanese expats and those families in Shanghai. China-resident Japanese cancer survivors occasionally consult us; however, their overseas medical needs and treatments have not been assessed comprehensively. Methods: The medical records were retrospectively reviewed on the cancer survivors who consulted our clinic between 2014 and 2016. Results: We found 31 cancer survivors, including 22 (71%) males. The patients' age ranged from 34 to 86-year-old, and patients in their fifties were the most frequent. The tumors originated from 12 body sites; 8 (26%) tumors from the breast, and 7 (23%) tumors from the large intestine. 11 patients with cancer had been diagnosed at our clinic, and all of them were referred to Japan to undergo medical treatments; afterward, 6 patients of those returned to Shanghai expat. The medical care for cancer survivors provided at our clinic are as summarized below (overlap exists). In 4 expat patients, cancer chemotherapy had been continued in Shanghai. In cooperation with oncologists in Japan, our surgeon provided 3 postoperative breast cancer patients with endocrine therapy. One patient with gastric cancer had seen our internist for daily medical care, and he had visited medical oncologist concurrently for receiving cancer chemotherapy in Japan. 6 patients visited our clinic for cancer-related reasons; for recurrence survey (seeking endoscopic exam and/or tumor marker evaluation), or for relieving symptoms (restless legs syndrome, anxiety, or insomnia). 25 patients visited us having non-cancer related symptoms (common cold, epigastralgia, or diarrhea), or for requesting annual check-up and/or vaccine inoculation. Conclusions: The needs of cancer survivors were various.We could attain some cancer chemotherapy for expat patients. Besides chemotherapy, daily medical care and mental supports were required. We can keep eliminating cancer-care disparities for expat cancer survivors in Shanghai.