Aiming to be a "specialized cancer hospital that meets the needs of the times"

 My name is Masaru Morita and I assumed the position of Director from April 2024.

 The National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center opened in 1972 as the only specialized cancer care facility in Kyushu. Our basic philosophy consists of "We respect the state of mind of cancer patients and their families, and aim to provide the best cancer treatment with warmth and compassion." This basic philosophy was created based on the words “the state of mind of cancer patients” of Dr. Irie, the first director, and “the state of mind of family” of Dr. Moriwaki, the second director.

 The hospital used to be in a peaceful neighborhood surrounded by rice fields; however, subsequently, with the opening of the Notame Interchange of the Fukuoka City Urban Expressway, our hospital was reborn as a seven-story hospital in 2016 side by side with condominium buildings. During this time, cancer medical care has also progressed rapidly. In the midst of such rapid changes, I feel that at every moment the spirit of “the feelings of patients” and “the feelings of family” has been continuously passed down and remained unchanged for more than 50 years. For the fourth consecutive year up to and including 2024, the Kyushu Cancer Center has been ranked one of the “World's Best Cancer Hospitals” as chosen by Newsweek magazine in the United States since they began selecting in 2021. I believe that this is because the medical treatment and care that all the staff members have cooperatively provided for patients as well as our various activities were recognized and appreciated.

 The Kyushu Cancer Center has established a spacious “Outpatient Chemotherapy Center,” “High-precision Radiotherapy Center” with the world's best functions, an “Imaging Department” equipped with PET/CT, etc. while introducing robot-assisted surgery in addition to less invasive thoracoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. On the other hand, as a system to support patients with cancer and their families, we provide a “Patient and Family Support Center” in addition to an “Admission Discharge Support Center” and a “Home-visit Nursing Station" to practice “seamless medical treatment and care” for outpatients, inpatients, and patients at home.

 Since 2020, the COVID-19 infection, which also raged in Japan, had a significant impact on cancer treatment and care. Now that we have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that it is important to look back once again and make further progress. At the Kyushu Cancer Center, while inheriting the spirit of “the state of mind of cancer patients” and “the state of mind of the families,” we aim to become a “specialized cancer hospital that meets the needs of the times” and make sure to “always think about and act on what we can do at that moment for the sake of patients.”

 I appreciate your continuous support of our hospital as we continue to support our patients working closely with related individuals and institutions including local medical personnel, government agencies, etc.

1 April, 2024