[IMPACT ON PROMOTION OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH FOR CANCER TREATMENT BY THE MEXT PROGRAMS OF “HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN” AND “PROMOTION PLAN FOR THE PLATFORM OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FOR CANCER”].

The year 2007 should be remembered as the year when cancer treatment in Japan underwent a drastic change. In 2007, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (known as MEXT) announced its “cancer professional fostering program,” and the Japanese Cancer Act became law. This act facilitated the development of a clinical environment in which highly advanced cancer treatment is performed. A program for the education of professionals to provide cancer care was also designed. It was important to show society that professionals who can lead medical teams with distinguished medical skills are necessary. Because of the cancer professional fostering program, we were able to create a clinical environment to carry out the most advanced cancer treatment and to establish education schemes to foster medical specialists. Continuous support for the cancer professional fostering program and systems established in relation to it is expected.