Throughout the nation, there are increasing efforts to establish “breast care centers”, which provide combined medical care ranging from breast cancer diagnosis to breast reconstruction. Until now, related departments have cooperated to provide diagnosis and treatments by working as a “mammary gland team”, but moving forward, we have decided to establish a “breast care center” with clearly-defined structure. At Fukuyama Medical Center, we perform surgery for about 110 cases of primary breast cancer every year, and it is increasingly important to personalize perioperative treatment, offer more breast reconstructions, perform more clinical trials, and strengthen cooperation between related departments.

The Mammary Gland / Endocrine Surgery Department (Dr.Miyoshi and Dr.Takahashi) serve as chief doctors, in charge of diagnosis, surgery, and postoperative chemotherapy.

The Radiotherapy Department (Dr.Nakagawa and Dr.Kaneyasu) are involved in almost all breast cancer cases, performing radiotherapy following breast preservation surgeries for early-stage breast cancers, as well as post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). Of all the medical facilities in the Chugoku region, only Fukuyama Medical Center performs clinical trials for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using the SAVI applicator, a radiotherapy treatment which can be completed in periods as short as five days.

The Plastic Surgery Department (Dr.Mikouchi) is in charge of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. In 2013, we implemented tissue expanders for breast reconstruction, and in 2014, we began offering silicon implant breast reconstruction. Both of these procedures are covered by insurance, and have helped to support the increasing number of breast reconstructions.

Our lymphedema therapists (Dr.Ohara, D.Taki, and Dr.Murakami) provide care and lifestyle guidance to assist with the recovery from lymphedema occurring in the upper limbs following dissection of lymph nodes under the armpit during breast cancer surgery.

Our clinical research coordinators (Ms.Yamaji and Ms.Nakano) are in charge of managing studies JCOG1017 and JCOG1204 under the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG).

This team is further supported by nurses and pharmacists appointed to the relevant wards, as well as the dedicated nurses and pharmacists of the outpatient chemotherapy room, creating a team structure to effectively provide breast cancer treatment.

Our team strives to provide patient-centered breast care treatment.

Breast Center Manager
Dr.Kazuya Miyoshi