History
1930's
The Cancer Society of Finland was founded 21st November 1936. The Society got a good start with the private donation of five million Finnish marks. The representatives of the Society invested the donation to buy radium. The income for the Society came from the rent of the radium. Even 20 years later, the Cancer Society of Finland owned over 90 per cent of all radium in Finland.
1940's
Helping poor cancer patients became one of the main activities. For example during the year of the Continuation war, 1944, the Society offered free-of charge cytological research for 300 patients. Funding for research was strengthened in 1948 when the Cancer Foundation was established. The first Secretary-General of the Cancer Society of Finland started his work in 1949.
1950's
A national fundraising campaign raised 42 million Finnish marks. First radium hospitals were established. At its peak, the Cancer Society of Finland owned seven radium hospitals. They were transferred to the public sector during 1967-1972.
The first regional member society was registered in 1951. The Finnish Cancer registry was founded in 1952 based on an earlier plan that was delayed due to the outbreak of the Winter War. The first national cancer committee started its work.
1960's
Patients activism paved the way to the establishment of patient organisations. The first was founded in 1961. Cervical cancer screenings using smear tests started in 1963 as a population-based programme.
The battle against smoking intensified. The Cancer Society was the driving force in the nationwide anti-tobacco campaign where public health organisations worked together. The Finnish Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1969, further soliditating the funding source for cancer research.
Lung cancer was the most common form of cancer among men. Breast cancer incidence overtook stomach cancer as the leading form of cancer among women. Due to screenings the incidence of cervical cancer started to drop quite dramatically.
1970's
Cancer control programmes were developed together in national working groups. They were based on comprehensive health promotion. For the first time, the epidemiological data gathered by the Finnish Cancer Registry could be used to full extent as a crucial part of this planning.
The Cancer Society ran into financial difficulties because of its hospital network. The last radium hospital was transferred to public sector. Cancer patient support and rehabilitation programmes were systematically developed.
The lung cancer incidence among men was one of the highest in the world. After the 1970's the lung cancer incidence started its downfall. During the years the change has been one of the steepest declines in developed countries. The Act of Parliament to reduce tobacco smoking was passed in 1976.
1980's
Hospice homes and palliative care gained ground. The first hospice for terminally ill patients in Finland, Terho Home, was founded. Nationwide breast cancer screenings started in 1987 as an organised programme. Health promotion campaigns took a more modern shape.
1990's
Smoking prevention campaigns were an important part of health promotion work. Mammograph screenings became health care routine in communities. The members of the Cancer Society worked actively in many national working groups and served on expert panels. Cancer Foundation attracted donators and could give more grants than before.
The upward trend of many common cancers slowed down, for example melanoma of the skin and colorectal cancer. Lung cancer was not the leading cancer among men. Prostate cancer took its place and has been in the lead ever since.
1996 was the start of a large study to establish the usefulness of PSA test in prostate cancer screening. This large, randomised study is a wholly international effort and the biggest in Europe and among the biggest even worldwide.
Research on cervical cancer and breast cancer screenings continued. The programmes were constructed to give the possibility to evaluate their quality and effectiveness. The cervical cancer screening process especially was under scrutiny. Mass Screening Registry of the Finnish Cancer registry is in charge of this evaluation work.
2000's
The smoking prevalence in Finland is now among the lowest in Europe. From 70% in the 1920's it has now come down to 28% among men. Of women, 20 % are smokers. On national legislation, environmental tobacco smoke is considered a carcinogenic substance.
Finland was one of only three European countries that reached the target of a 15 per cent decline in cancer mortality, the other two were Luxembourg and Austria. The target had been set by the Europe Against Cancer - programme of the European Union. The five-year survival rate of cancer patients exceeded 60 per cent. In all cancers, the Finnish survival rates are among the best in Europe. The survival rate of childhood leukaemia reached 90 per cent.
The Cancer Society of Finland supports cancer registry in Trivandrum, India, for five years, covering all of the Indian registry's running costs.
Population-based colorectal cancer screenings started in 2004. About 45 people work in the headquarters in Helsinki and around 150 in regional member organisations.
2010's
The leading cancer among men will be prostate cancer, breast cancer among women. The second most common cancer will be colorectal cancer. The annual number of new cases will increase from 23 000 to over 27 000 but the incidence rates will be about the same.
