Doctor's Insight

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on our minds. According to a survey by the CDC in the US, 40% of adults show symptoms of conditions such as anxiety disorder and depression. In Japan, experts are concerned about the growing number of people suffering from various mental disorders. We'll introduce a method of visualizing internal mental status that involves writing out your worries. Also, find out how to relieve stress effectively using stretching techniques and evidence-based mindfulness exercise. Learn helpful mental health tips from an expert to prepare for the stressful long-term fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cancer - it is the 2nd leading cause of death. So what was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2020? Lung cancer? Colon cancer? The answer is breast cancer. For many years, lung cancer had been the most common form of cancer, but female breast cancer has taken over due to a rapid increase in the number of cases. 2.3 million breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2020. Every woman is at some risk for breast cancer and it can even strike men. Find out ways to reduce your risk and learn the steps for early detection.

Are you physically active? In the time of COVID-19, there are concerns over increased physical inactivity all around the world. It can lead to a greater risk of various illnesses including breast cancer. Currently, physical activity is attracting attention as a way to prevent breast cancer as well as its recurrence. How much can physical activity lower our risk? What type of exercise is recommended and how much of it should we do? We'll talk to a breast cancer expert and an exercise specialist to find out.

Do you think of breast cancer as a disease for older women? This is generally true, but roughly 5% of those who get breast cancer are under the age of 40 and they face many issues. According to a survey conducted on young breast cancer survivors in Japan, "pregnancy and childbirth" was the second highest cause for concern following their own health. Most importantly, can women get pregnant after breast cancer? This episode will focus on the topic of breast cancer and pregnancy.

"I do like being older. Maybe because my mom didn't live very long..." These are the words of Angelina Jolie who lost her mother to breast cancer, sharing her thoughts in an interview. Almost 10 years ago, Jolie shocked the world when she revealed to having both of her healthy breasts surgically removed. Breast cancer is a disease that can be inherited. No one can change their genes, but we could change our fate by making efforts for early detection. This episode looks closely at hereditary breast cancer.

Which organ in your body breaks down alcohol? It's the liver. The liver plays a variety of important roles. However, liver disease can progress without any symptoms as the organ has no nerve fibers that can sense pain. Every year, liver cancer accounts for 1.3 million deaths worldwide. But wait, there's hope. It's possible to avoid the worst-case scenario if abnormalities in the liver can be detected early. This episode will shine the light on the "silent organ" and help you understand your risk for liver disease.

Liver cancer takes the lives of over 1.3 million people worldwide each year. Among them, 80% are caused by the hepatitis viruses. It has been almost 50 years since the hepatitis virus was first discovered, but we are still fighting it today. The WHO observes World Hepatitis Day on July 28th every year to raise awareness on hepatitis. How do people get infected with the virus? This episode will focus on ways to prevent and treat hepatitis.

Liver cancer could be life-threatening. The leading cause is viral hepatitis, but there's another large risk factor - fatty liver disease. Fatty liver is the buildup of fat in your liver, and it can trigger the development of liver cancer. Obesity and heavy drinking are closely related to fatty liver, but there are other causes. In this episode, find out ways to prevent fatty liver disease.

Liver cancer causes as many as 1.3 million deaths each year. This can be attributed to the fact that the patients are often asymptomatic. In many cases, the liver is already cancerous by the time it's discovered. However, there is still hope. Treatment is advancing, and depending on the condition of the cancer, it has become possible to try to cure it. Find out what new treatments are available for liver cancer.

In 2020, there were over 600,000 new cases of esophageal cancer. Surprisingly, Asian countries including Japan account for 80% of those cases. Esophageal cancer is hard to detect in the early stages, but the main risk factors are alcohol and smoking. Asians are said to have a high incidence rate due to their low tolerance to alcohol. How high is your risk? Do you experience facial flushing but still drink alcohol frequently? Do you smoke or lack fruit and vegetables in your diet? Are you obese? Find out the mechanisms of esophageal cancer and how to prevent it.

There are 2 types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC). Despite the large proportion of SCC cases worldwide, AC is increasing rapidly in North America, Europe and Oceania. The cause of AC is linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease. AC develops as the inner lining of the esophagus is irritated by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus and is replaced by cells similar to the cells lining the stomach. Watch to find out ways to prevent adenocarcinoma.

Japan was a pioneer in the development of the gastrocamera, the predecessor of the current endoscope. Currently, most of the endoscopes used around the world are made in Japan. They are essential for early detection and early treatment of esophageal cancer. Find out how esophageal cancer is detected and removed by watching video footage of endoscopy procedures. This episode will also introduce how esophageal cancer is detected and treated early in Japan, where endoscopies are the most available.

Esophageal cancer surgery is considered to be one of the most difficult surgeries. The standard open chest surgery is extremely invasive, as the esophagus runs right in front of the spine where it is hard to reach. In this episode, we will introduce a robotic surgery that removes esophageal cancer without opening the chest. This surgery offers less bleeding and greatly reduces the risk of infections such as pneumonia. Find out about the world's first robot-assisted surgery for esophageal cancer developed in Japan and performed without opening the chest.