[Board-certified radiation oncologists--what does a cancer treatment specialist mean ?].

The Japanese Board of Cancer Therapy (JBCT) has started the board certification of general oncologists, who have a general knowledge for the treatment of cancer. Board-certified general oncologists could co-operate with board-certified specialists for specific cancer or organs so as to provide all cancer patients in the nation with high-quality treatment. The number of board-certified radiation oncologists in Japan is so small that they cannot meet the increasing demand for radiation therapy. An issue in the departments of radiation oncology of many medical schools is how to develop an attractive training program for radiation oncologists. We discuss the present status of board certified radiation oncologists.