[Employment Support for Cancer Patients].

In Japan, the number of people who suffer with cancer once in their lives has increased since 1985, and the 5-year relative survival rate for cancer patients continues to improve. As a result, there have been reports on the difficulties faced by working age patients because they attempt to simultaneously undergo cancer treatment and work. In June 2012, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published the Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs with improved cancer countermeasures for working people and children to manage problems related to the employment of cancer patients, and it has been subsequently promoting these initiatives. A report on the needs and problems faced by medical facilities regarding the employment of cancer patients, survivors, and their family members was presented at an investigative commission in August 2014 that assessed ways to support the employment of cancer patients and survivors. In February 2016, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released its guidelines on providing workplace support to people attempting to simultaneously undergo treatment and continue working. The authors conducted an interview survey of clinical nurses who provided employment and life support to cancer patients. In this study, we present examples of employment support practices provided to cancer patients by clinical nurses that we hope will be helpful to medical facilities providing such support.