Supporting Cancer Treatment and Financial Worries Across Society ~ Towards a Society Where Household Consultations Are Available in All 1741 Municipalities Nationwide ~

Our association endorses April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to express dreams. This press release is the dream of the 'Patient Household Support Association'.

■ Towards a society where cancer patients can receive local household financial consultations in all 1741 municipalities

When diagnosed with cancer, many people face not only the treatment itself but also financial anxieties such as medical expenses, reduced income, living costs, and future household financial outlook.

We challenge ourselves to realize a future where cancer treatment and financial anxieties can be supported by society as a whole.

■ The background to wanting to realize this dream

As cancer treatment becomes prolonged, it is becoming more important than ever for patients and their families to consider not only 'this month's medical expenses' but also how to plan their income and expenditure outlook and life design after starting treatment.

Furthermore, a review of the high-cost medical care benefit system is currently being considered, and we believe that in the future, even more support will be needed to 'plan treatment and life on an annual basis'.

What is needed is not just knowledge of the system, but support that considers each person's household finances, work style, and family situation.

There are 'financial anxieties' that should be supported by society as a whole

Many medical institutions provide patient support, mainly through cancer consultation support centers.
However,

• There are differences in consultation systems among medical institutions

• Consultation staff are limited (hospitals and clinics other than designated cancer care hospitals)

• Many consultations cannot be resolved by public systems alone

• Overall household financial outlook and life planning are highly individualized

For these reasons,
It is often difficult for medical settings alone to provide sufficient support.

Therefore, we believe that there is a need for a role to provide household financial consultations as patient support FPs, in cooperation with medical professionals.

■ Past initiatives of the Patient Household Support Association

Our association has so far engaged in:

• Household financial consultation support in cooperation with medical professionals at Chiba University Hospital

• Online consultations

• Consultation services at Chiba Medical Cafe

• Consultation support at cancer-related events

• Study sessions and case reviews for medical professionals

• Training of FPs who can provide patient support, 'Patient Household Advisors®'

• Survey on the economic reality of cancer patients

• Medical expense consultation sessions for patients with rare diseases in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies

and other initiatives.

To date, we have handled over 200 patient consultations.

We provide support that goes beyond just providing information on systems, but also includes helping individuals organize how much expenditure can be expected in the future and how to protect their livelihoods.

■ The future we want to realize - The option of 'Visiting FP'

What if 'Visiting FPs' became as common as home medical care, home nursing, and home care?

Cancer patients and their families could calmly discuss future treatment and finances together at home.

For those who have difficulty commuting or have health issues, it would bring us closer to a society where they can 'receive necessary support in necessary places'.

■ This dream can be realized with the 181,117 existing FP qualified professionals

According to the Japan FP Association, as of March 1, 2026, there are 28,301 CFP® certificants and 152,816 AFP certificants, totaling 181,117 qualified professionals.
This large human resource, by connecting with medical care and patient support, has the potential to further expand regional support systems.

We want to spread the idea of utilizing FP knowledge and experience as a new role in patient support to society.

■ We want to realize this with medical, financial, insurance, and local governments

This dream cannot be realized by us alone.

That is why we want to proceed with the following individuals and organizations:

• Medical institutions and clinics

• Financial institutions

• Insurance companies

• Local governments

• Local support organizations

• FPs interested in patient support

Towards a society where there is no disparity in support based on where one lives, even if one has cancer.

Towards a society where patients can face treatment without giving up, while also protecting their livelihoods.

The Patient Household Support Association will challenge itself to realize a future where 'cancer treatment and financial anxieties are supported locally'.

We hope to expand future collaborations with medical institutions, local governments, companies, and supporters who are interested in this initiative.