[Overview of efforts]

Social background

Some malignant bone and soft tissue tumors are caused by hereditary factors and are called hereditary bone and soft tissue tumors. The hereditary diseases that cause such tumors include neurofibromatosis type 1 and Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Patients with these diseases have a higher than normal chance of developing malignant bone and soft tissue tumors and various other cancers from birth, and their prognosis is poor. Furthermore, various diseases are developed in the organs of the entire body, reducing the patients’ quality of life. However, a systematic treatment system has not been established in Japan.
 

Purposes of the activities

By establishing a medical treatment system for hereditary bone and soft tissue tumors, we aim to provide patients and their families with appropriate information about the diseases. We also aim at detecting cancer at an early stage and start its treatment at an early stage through surveillance.
 

Overview of activities

The Okayama University Hospital was the first in Japan to establish an outpatient clinic for hereditary bone and soft tissue tumors, specializing in the treatment of patients with hereditary bone and soft tissue tumors. In this outpatient clinic, doctors specializing in bone and soft tissue tumors and certified genetic counselors provide patients and their families with appropriate information about the diseases. They also provide genetic counseling to blood relatives of the patients so that the health of the entire family can be managed. Furthermore, the clinic provides support to them so that they can smoothly receive social support, such as that from medical aid programs. A system that allows the patients to receive treatment from multiple departments was established.
 

Expected effects

By carrying out early diagnosis of cancer in patients with hereditary bone and soft tissue tumors and giving them early treatment at this outpatient clinic, it is expected to improve their quality of life and prognosis. This initiative is in line with the targets 3, 8 and 10 of the SDGs.