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| Deputy Director and Chief Yuji Ishida, M.D. |
Senior Staff Rieko Taniguchi, M.D. |
Senior Staff Ikuko Takahashi, M.D. |
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| Ayako Yamamori, M.D. |
Yusuke Tsumura, M.D. |
Kotaro Ogawa, M.D. |
Resident Eri Hirota, M.D. |
CLS Yuko Tsuneishi |
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| CLS Kyoko Nishimoto |
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Pediatrics is the clinical department dedicated to the prevention and treatment of diseases in children up to 15 years old. Within our center, the Division of Pediatrics specializes specifically in therapies for childhood cancers (pediatric cancer).
Cancers in pediatric patients differ significantly from adult cancers based on where they originate. In adults, cancers commonly develop in organs connected to the outer environment, such as lung, stomach, and colorectal cancers. In contrast, childhood cancers often originate in deep tissues and organs that have no direct contact with the outside. These include leukemia (blood cancer), malignant lymphoma, brain tumors, and sarcomas (such as osteosarcoma) in muscles and bones.
Pediatric cancers are treated using a variety of advanced methods—including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy—often utilizing a skillful combination of these approaches to achieve the best outcomes.
. Cancers in children can be treated by various methods including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy (with anti-cancer drugs), and the skillful combination of these.
To deliver the highest standard of multidisciplinary care, our cancer treatment teams unite specialized physicians with a diverse network of allied healthcare professionals. This collaborative team includes pediatric oncologists, dentists, oncology nurses, child life specialists, psychotherapists, radiologists, and rehabilitation specialists (physical, occupational, and speech therapists).
Introducing Child Life Specialist (CLS)
With recent advancements in pediatric oncology, long-term survival and extended periods of remission have become increasingly common. However, young patients may still experience pain during treatment, or face adverse health effects following surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Furthermore, some unpleasant symptoms and late complications can persist or emerge years after treatment has concluded. To minimize these long-term effects, we prioritize therapies designed to protect each child’s future. This includes function-preserving surgeries to retain physical capabilities for many years to come, advanced radiation therapy involving proton therapy to safeguard growing tissues, and customized chemotherapy protocols tailored to minimize discomfort and reduce the burden of treatment.
Our division is equipped with a specialized pediatric proton therapy program, featuring a state-of-the-art treatment facility and a dedicated team of medical experts. Because proton therapy centers for pediatric oncology are rare in Japan, we collaborate with pediatric cancer institutions nationwide to ensure every child receives the highest standard of care. Among these networks, we maintain a close partnership with Shizuoka Children’s Hospital. Their pediatricians provide invaluable organ-specific subspecialty expertise, which greatly enhances our comprehensive treatment planning.
We consistently pursue innovative treatments for childhood cancers. As part of the effort, we participate in multicenter clinical research to evaluate novel therapeutic methods under strict regulatory guidelines, as well as clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new drugs for official regulatory approval. We remain dedicated to collaborating on these vital studies to advance the field of pediatric oncology.
At the Division of Pediatrics, we support not only pediatric cancer patients but also parents who are undergoing cancer treatments themselves while raising minor children. We strive to understand the unique worries and anxieties of these fathers and mothers, always keeping the children’s perspectives close to heart.
The term AYA stands for Adolescent and Young Adult. At our division, the AYA generation includes both individuals who underwent pediatric cancer treatment before reaching adulthood, and young people who were diagnosed with cancer before gaining full life and social experience. Patients in this age group often face unique challenges due to the physical and social transitions they are navigating. To address these needs, Shizuoka Cancer Center (SCC) features a dedicated ward designed exclusively for AYA patients, reflecting our hospital-wide commitment to providing them with the highest standard of cancer care.
Cancer Medicine for the AYA Generation
At the Division of Pediatrics, our specialists provide cancer treatment in close collaboration with physicians from other clinical fields. Furthermore, our dedicated healthcare staff is fully integrated into the care team to continuously support both the children and their families.
We practice medicine using a multidisciplinary team approach. We provide treatment for pediatric cancer patients both within the eastern region of Shizuoka Prefecture and across other regions, focusing primarily on pediatric malignant solid tumors. In doing so, we take full advantage of our close alignment with Shizuoka Children’s Hospital. Because our institution is equipped with a proton therapy facility for pediatric cancers, we embrace the responsibility of providing and evaluating treatments that minimize late-stage adverse effects as much as possible.
For combination chemotherapy, we always work in cooperation with referring medical institutions. Furthermore, we are currently preparing for international joint studies with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in the U.S. We aim to accelerate the early development of new therapies by leveraging our position as a high-volume cancer center capable of providing numerous cases for the study.
One of our core goals is to support cancer patients in the parenting generation and their families, utilizing full-time Child Life Specialists (CLS) for problem-solving. Additionally, to support AYA patients and provide them with optimal treatments—a major focus in modern oncology—we are well-prepared to deliver solutions through a new ward specifically allocated for this generation.
pediatric cancer
support for cancer patient and his/her family
Specialist Certified by the Japan Pediatric Society
Hematologist Certified by the Japanese Society of Hematology
The Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology
The Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
International Member of the Children’s Oncology Group, U.S.A.
pediatric cancer
hereditary tumor
Specialist and Accredited Supervisory Doctor Certified by the Japan Pediatric Society
Specialist Certified by the Japanese Society of Hematology
Specialist Certified by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology
The Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
Clinical Specialist in Genetics Medicine Certified by the Japan Society of Human Genetics
pediatric cancer
support for cancer patient and his/her family
Specialist Certified by the Japan Pediatric Society
The Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
General Clinical Oncologist Certified by the Japanese Board of Cancer Therapy
The Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine
pediatric cancer
Specialist Certified by the Japan Pediatric Society
The Japanese Society of Hematology
The Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
General Clinical Oncologist Certified by the Japanese Board of Cancer Therapy
The Japanese Society of Allergology
Certified Occupational Health Physician of the Japan Medical Association
