Workplace Cancer Screening Practices in Japan

Japanese workplaces are under scrutiny for their cancer screening practices, as a recent survey sheds light on how companies are handling screenings for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers. The study revealed that adherence to national guidelines is disappointingly low, with only 12.7% of enterprises following guidelines for colorectal cancer, 3.0% for breast cancer, and 8.8% for cervical cancer.

The survey, conducted by the Corporate Action to Promote Cancer Control, sampled 432 companies. The findings showed a worrying trend of overscreening, particularly for colorectal and breast cancers, where screenings were done at younger ages than recommended. On the other hand, cervical cancer screening was classified as underscreening, where companies started testing at an older age than advised.

Around 70.8% of colorectal screenings and 67.1% of breast screenings fell into the overscreening category. Cervical cancer screenings were classified as underscreening in about 60.6% of the enterprises. This raises concerns about the balance between ensuring early detection and avoiding unnecessary tests, which could lead to overdiagnosis and unnecessary anxiety.

The study also highlighted that larger enterprises and those affiliated with specific health insurance associations were more likely to engage in overscreening. The number of initiatives a company takes to promote cancer screenings also played a role, with more proactive approaches being linked to increased overscreening rates.

In contrast, local governments appeared to follow guidelines more closely, with a higher adherence rate compared to companies. This discrepancy emphasizes the need for enterprises to reassess their cancer screening policies and align them with best practices to ensure employee health without crossing into overscreening territory.