Yle MOT: Cancer Survival Rates in Finland Lag Behind Nordic Neighbors

An investigation by the national broadcaster Yle has found that cancer patients in Finland die sooner than those in other Nordic countries, particularly when diagnosed with lung, colon, or rectal cancers.

The probe by the investigative unit MOT indicates that Finland now lags behind Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland in several key survival categories.

The findings are based on the Nordcan database, which tracks cancer statistics across the Nordic region to project five-year survival rates.

While Finland maintains high standards for breast and prostate cancer treatment, it ranks last in the region for approximately 12 types of male-specific cancers.

Medical experts point to delayed medical attention and a relative lack of early-stage imaging tests as primary reasons for the disparity.

In Finland, imaging tests are carried out less frequently in the early stages of treatment compared to other Nordic nations.

Finns may be slower to seek medical help

A study from the University of Helsinki suggests that Finns may be slower to seek medical help when symptoms appear. Furthermore, research from the University of Eastern Finland shows that lung cancer is frequently diagnosed only after the disease has spread to other organs.

Surgery is often no longer a viable option by the time these late-stage diagnoses occur. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the cancer is more likely to spread and the patient’s prognosis worsens significantly.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health acknowledged that wait times in Finnish primary healthcare are long by international standards. This is a significant factor as Finland recently transitioned to a new system of Wellbeing Services Counties to manage regional healthcare delivery.

Data shows that Finland typically spends a smaller percentage of its GDP on healthcare compared to its Nordic neighbors like Norway and Sweden. This funding gap impacts the procurement of expensive new immuno-oncology drugs.

These advanced medicines are used less in Finland than in many other European countries. A single course of treatment can cost more than 100,000 euros per patient.

Professor Antti Jekunen of the University of Turku notedin the Yle report that these costs may influence the decisions made by doctors regarding specific medicines. He recommended that Finland define how much society is willing to pay for an additional year of a patient’s life.

Dr. Maria Silvoniemi of Turku University Hospital called for a broader public discussion on how patients are treated. She stated that if Finland decides to provide a lower standard of care than its neighbors, that decision should be made by a higher authority and communicated publicly.

Last year, the government published a national cancer strategy aimed at improving the availability and quality of treatment nationwide. Health officials also emphasized that individuals have a responsibility to seek treatment promptly and reduce their own risks through healthy lifestyle choices.