Cancer Society of Finland 2024

The CSF was founded in 1936 as a nationwide umbrella organisation for the fight against cancer. Regional cancer societies have been affiliated with the CSF since the 1950s and patients’ organisations since the 1960s. At the end of 2024, the CSF had a total of 17 member associations: 12 regional cancer societies and five national patients’ organisations. Altogether, these comprise about 100,000 members.

Cancer Foundation Finland was established in 1948 to support the fight against cancer and cancer research. The CSF and the foundation began collaborating in 1950 through a joint fundraising campaign. The foundation works towards its goal by collecting and distributing funds for cancer research and by providing financial support to the CSF and its member associations. Fundraising by the CSF has been concentrated within Cancer Foundation Finland, which is the largest private funder of cancer research in Finland.

Founded in 1952, the Finnish Cancer Registry is an epidemiological and statistical research institute focusing on cancer. At its core are the population-based cancer registry and screening registries. The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is the registrar of the Finnish Cancer Registry. The CSF is the technical administrator and processor of personal data for the Finnish Cancer Registry. The registry’s mission is to produce information on the cancer situation and its development for the authorities and the public, to provide researchers with material for cancer research, and to conduct its own research.

 

CSF strategy 2021–25

The strategy is a pledge by the CSF to work purposefully to promote health, prevent cancer, support people with cancer and reduce the damage caused by cancer throughout the country.

Vision. A good life without cancer and despite cancer.

Mission statement. We prevent cancer, promote survival and provide support for those with cancer and their loved ones.

Goals. The CSF is a strong and competent organisation that

 

• promotes health, well-being and cancer prevention
• promotes a good life for those who have cancer and their loved ones, despite cancer
• strengthens fairness and effectiveness in cancer diagnosis and treatment
• strengthens cancer research and expertise.

Development programmes. The CSF’s strategy for 2021–2025 is based on five development programmes:

• We will work with people to benefit people.
• We will do things that have a profound impact.
• We will advance our goals in every encounter.
• We will develop the organisation’s internal cooperation and division of labour.
• We will strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment by improving cancer research and expertise.

The development programmes are implemented through projects during the strategy period, as described in more detail in the section The CSF is a strong and competent organisation.

In the summer of 2024, the CSF began preparing a new strategy. The schedule was affected by the start of work on the National Cancer Strategy work, as well as by the advance cuts to the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health (STEA) decided by the government in spring 2024.