JCJTC Monthly Report (Sample)
JCJTC distributes Monthly Reports on the overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer in Japan to specialists overseas. A part of the reports is presented below.
JCJTC Monthly Report July 2023
Dear all,
Korea and Japan experienced the damage of overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer due to the overuse of thyroid ultrasonography at about the same time. However, their subsequent responses were completely different.
In South Korea, sensible experts collaborated with the mass media to launch an anti-overdiagnosis campaign, and as a result, the concept of overdiagnosis spread among the public, and the damage quickly subsided since 2015. On the other hand, in Japan, the method of thyroid examination in Fukushima has not changed at all, and the unregulated thyroid examination by citizens' groups is left unchecked, and no countermeasures are taken. The damage continues to expand. How did this difference come about?
The following is one of the speculations. Since ancient times, the most cherished concept in Japanese society was "conformity." The Japanese word representing conformity is "wa," not surprisingly, which is the same word meaning "Japan." Japanese people tend to flow in one direction as a group. It is a great advantage when trying to reach one big goal together. However, when a national prestige project turns out to be wrong, it becomes hard to turn around. In other countries, many discussions may be exchanged, and improvements may be sought in such a case. However, in Japan, much effort is made to justify the outcome and seal the arguments that can be the source of conflict.
This trend is particularly noticeable in academic societies. For example, this may be an astonishing fact to overseas experts, but only 2 out of 872 thyroid specialists in Japan openly state the harm of the Fukushima thyroid examination.
It is not very pleasant, but for this reason, Japan is said to be an overdiagnosis powerhouse. The screening continued for over thirty years when Japan suffered from overdiagnosis of infant neuroblastoma. It was not until the domestic experts were exposed to bitter criticism from overseas that the harm of its overdiagnosis finally ceased. Overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer in Fukushima is likely to follow a similar path. Therefore, it is our urgent task to confer the present situation in Japan with overseas experts.