Cancer Society of Finland

Cancer Society of Finland

Founded in 1936, the Cancer Society of Finland is the national society comprising of 12 regional cancer societies and four nationwide patient organisations. Over 120. 000 people have joined the Society's patient and regional organisations as individual members, thus granting it the status of one of the largest public health organisations in the whole of Finland. In all, there are nearly 200 000 people with the history of cancer living in Finland.

The Cancer Society of Finland coordinates the work of regional societies, which are independently registered organisations in their own right. The first regional member society was founded in 1951.

The 12 regional societies are independently registered organisations. Their work reflects local needs and adjusts to different local environments. They provide a vast array of services up and down the country from the Aland Islands in the South West up to and beyond the Polar Circle in the North. Regional societies offer help in their counselling units, laboratories, hospices and through their health services.

Five nationwide patient organisations have joined the Society as members, thus strengthening its popular base. The patient member organisations of the Cancer Society of Finland are:

• Mouth and Throat Cancer Organisation (joined the Society in 1962)
• Cancer Patients in Finland (joined in 1971)
• SYLVA, Childhood Cancer Parent Organisation (joined in 1982)
• Finnish Prostate Cancer Association (joined in 1997)
• Colores, the Finnish Colorectal Cancer Association (joined in 2010)

Apart from coordinating the work of regional societies and patient organisations, the Cancer Society of Finland is either administrating or co-operating with three other crucial organisations in cancer control in Finland; the Cancer Foundation, Finnish Foundation for Cancer Research and the Finnish Cancer Registry.

Moreover, the Cancer Society of Finland owns one cytology/pathology laboratory. Cancer organisations have founded three hospices. Two of them started in 1988.

The Secretary General meets regularly with managers of the regional societies and patient organisations. The chairman of the board is Professor, MD Teuvo Tammela.

The Cancer Society of Finland has its head office in Helsinki. There are 70 employees, half of them working in the Finnish Cancer Registry. There are approximately 150 persons working in the regional societies and national patient organisations.

Updated 2.2.2012