Outpatient Chemotherapy Center

There are 14 medical departments that utilize the Outpatient Chemotherapy Center, and 543 types of registered treatments (regimens) (Table 1). All of them are standard treatment methods that have been registered after specialists from multiple medical departments evaluated the validity of the treatment.

The target diseases include colon cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine body cancer, cervical cancer, malignant lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. The details for the results of the medical treatment are listed (Table 2).

We have prepared a patient brochure with the most commonly used regimens (Figure 1). This brochure contains the schedule of treatments, the type of infusions on the day of treatment, the order of administration, the time required, the type and timing of the major side effects, home care and life advice, and emergency contact information. We also create a patient journal (Figure 2) and a pamphlet for each side effect (Figure 3) to help patients understand the treatment and the side effects, and to continue the safe treatment at their hospital visits. In August 2008, we opened a consultation desk called the "Cancer Treatment and Pain Counseling Room" in order to respond to the discomfort of the physical symptoms and feelings such as the pain caused by cancer, the anxiety associated with treatment, and the worries about life and care at home. Here, we work with the palliative care team to provide consultation for the patients and their families.