CANCER SOCIETY OF FINLAND STRATEGY 2020
Introduction The Cancer Society of Finland comprises 12 regional cancer societies and five national patient organisations. It is Finland s largest and most influential patient and public health organisation. The Cancer Foundation is the main private funder of cancer research in the country. The Cancer Society of Finland maintains the Finnish Cancer Registry, an institute for epidemiological and statistical cancer research. The strategy orients and guides the activity of the Cancer Society of Finland and the Cancer Foundation for the period 2015 2020. The strategy is the Cancer Society of Finland s pledge to work decisively nationwide to promote health, prevent cancer, support those who are ill with the disease, and diminish the harm that cancer causes. The Cancer Society of Finland is a civil society organisation whose work is of an expert nature and exerts an influence in society. Its key resource consists of those who volunteer their skills and expertise for the common work of the organisation. The Cancer Society of Finland serves its members, stakeholders and society as a whole by creating robust community structures rooted in independence and ethical conduct in all forms of activity. The challenge we face is to ensure a good quality of life for people in Finland with cancer regardless of the disease. 02 03
Changes in the operational environment Time of uncertainty Although Finland is a stable society, there are many early signs to indicate that we are entering a period of uncertainty. Economic restructuring has an impact on pro duction, employment and services. Mutual dependence makes Finland increasingly vulnerable to worldwide developments. Global markets create rapid effects and influences. Environmental perspectives are gaining in strength. Amidst the conflicting messages concerning health, we often find it hard to find out what information is accurate or plain wrong. People in Finland need reliable information about cancer, its prevention and treatment outcomes because the success of society and decision-making in these respects is based on scientific knowledge. The background of cancer and many other non-communicable diseases is for the most part associated with identical lifestyle-related causes. This sets the conditions for wide-ranging cooperation in health promotion among organisations. We can reduce the risk of cancer Our population is ageing and life expectancy is increasing. Treatment is improving. The numbers of people with cancer are growing. The Finnish Cancer Registry estimates that in 2020, the end of the period covered by this strategy, about 19 000 and 17 600 women will be diagnosed with cancer annually. This is 36 800 people. In 2025 over 40 000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed. The increase in new cancer cases will be almost exclusively in the over 65-yearold age group. Helping people change from lifestyles that increase the risk of cancer can have a valuable preventative effect. Though the use of tobacco products has declined greatly, the most effective way for us to prevent cancer is still to cut tobacco use. A country of individuals and loneliness There are growing numbers of single person households. Individuality is an increasingly dominant trend. Loneliness in old age is a common concern among people in Finland. Keeping in touch with others online can ease things, but it is hardly a substitute for the actual presence of another person. Every person who develops cancer is a unique individual entitled to be considered as such. 04 05
Operational concept Beating cancer The purpose of the Cancer Society of Finland according to its rules, which go back to 1936, is to prevent the destruction that cancer reaps on our citizens. One in three Finns will get cancer in their lifetime. The Cancer Society of Finland s purpose is to vanquish cancer. This will happen through cancer prevention, earlier detection of the disease and by further developing cancer treatment. It will also be achieved by enabling every cancer patient s recovery and possibility to live life to the full, despite the presence of the disease and its effects. 06 07
Values Equality and justice Reliability Availability Sense of community Equality and justice Ever since the establishment of the Cancer Society of Finland, it has sought ensure the best possible treatment and care for all regardless of where they live or their social status. Everyone has equal human dignity. People belonging to different social groups face different cancer risks. About a half of cancers could be prevented by changes in lifestyle and the living environ ment. Lifestyles that increase the risk of cancer are more usual among poorer social groups. Active health promotion work boosts people s wellbeing and health, as well as reducing health inequalities and social exclusion between population groups. Reliability The Cancer Society of Finland will hold true to their pledge to all people who have cancer, their families and friends, the public, donors, decision-makers and researchers. The information that the Cancer Society of Finland will provide individually to those who request it, and to a wider audience via different channels, will continue to be accurate and up-to-date. The Finnish Cancer Registry is an internationally renowned actor in the fields of cancer epidemiology and statistics. It provides professional assistance to decision-makers and researchers. The Cancer Foundation is the most important private source of funding for cancer research in Finland and meets the needs of researchers and requirements of cancer research. Availability The Cancer Society of Finland s services are readily available to all who need them. The member associations and national counselling service provide individual advice and support to people who request it. They determine their clients situation and respect their wishes. The Cancer Society of Finland s webpages are the most important and most used source of information on cancer in the country because they are reliable, interesting and easy to use. Sense of community The Cancer Society is Finland s largest and one of the most influential patient and public health organisations. Its strength is built on the seamless community and client-oriented nature of its regional societies and national patient organisations, and its proficient central office. The Cancer Society of Finland and Cancer Foundation share common goals and play distinct roles in realising them. They will work closely with other organisations to meet these goals. 08 09
vision A good life without cancer and despite cancer One in three people in Finland will get cancer during the course of their life. After a period of five years following their diagnosis, two thirds of those who have the disease will no longer be in any greater danger of succumbing to it. We will not be able to eradicate cancer during the period covered by this strategy, and it is hardly foreseeable in the near future. Our objective is that few people as possible will get the disease, that as many as possible will make a full recovery from it, and that those with incurable cancer will be able to live full lives with the help of good quality treatment and support. Strategic goals The Cancer Society of Finland is a strong and competent structure, the aims of which are to» strengthen cancer prevention and early detection» support the development of cancer treatment» promote a good quality of life for people despite cancer, and» strengthen cancer research. 10 11
Cancer Society of Finland will strengthen cancer prevention and early detection Health policy in Finland has placed great emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion. The Cancer Society of Finland will actively influence all policy sectors whose activities can contribute towards reducing the risk of cancer. Solutions concerning the future arrangement of social and health care create the conditions for advocacy work, including in the context of the reforms to the social and health care system. Municipalities wide-ranging health promotion work must also be developed. Public health organisations in Finland have played an important role in non-communicable disease prevention. The Finnish Slot Machine Association will support the health promotion work of the organisations. The Cancer Society of Finland has born the main responsibility for over the past decade for campaigns aimed at reducing smoking among the young. The Cancer Society of Finland has also helped the public make informed, health-promoting choices on matters concerning nutrition and weight control, exercise, alcohol use, sexual health and sun exposure. Cooperation among public health organisations is more important than ever, because the main risk factors linked to lifestyle are common to the most usual non-communicable diseases. These organisations are also in a position to improve their efficacy by learning from one another. The Cancer Society of Finland has played a pioneering role in the induction of cancer screening in Finland. The Finnish Cancer Registry occupies an internationally important position as an expert organisation in cancer screening and as a performer of screening research, which is important in terms of screening policy. The goal is to retain this position and to actively influence the content of international screening recommendations.the Cancer Foundation will continue to support research related to cancer prevention and early detection. Cancer Society of Finland will support the development of cancer treatment The goal of the Cancer Society of Finland is that people who have cancer will receive high quality individual treatment at a reasonable expense that is provided at the right time and within pre-determined timeframes. Service organisers must regularly monitor delays in access to treatment, and follow-up information concerning them must be made available to all. People-centred treatment and care is characterised by respect for patients, an understanding of their overall situation, and empathetic interaction and open discussion concerning all stages of treatment. Patient s autonomy and realisation of their own responsibilities will be strengthened. The Cancer Society of Finland has born the main responsibility for over the past decade for campaigns aimed at reducing smoking among the young The Cancer Society of Finland will seek to influence political decision-making so that there are sufficient and appropriate resources for cancer treatment throughout the country. The National Cancer Plan has set goals to which the Cancer Society of Finland is committed. High-level research and the application of its results in clinical treatment in a controlled manner will ensure that the outcomes of cancer treatment will further improve. There needs to be particular attention given to reducing the adverse side effects of treatment. The Cancer Society of Finland will work to ensure that the national comprehensive cancer centre Finland (FICAN) is established in a planned manner. Translational cancer research linking basic research and clinical research will create new possibilities that must not be missed. The Cancer Society of Finland will make the experience and perspective of patients prominent in cancer treatment. Wellplanned treatment paths do not always work immaculately from the patients perspective. The Cancer Society of Finland will aim to ensure that patients worries are recognised and that they are offered the right kind of support. Furthermore, the availability and quality of symptomatic and palliative treatment must be assured throughout the country. Cancer Society of Finland will promote a good quality of life despite cancer Cancer is a frightening illness both for those who are ill and for their loved ones. They need information and support right from the moment the disease is detected. The Cancer Society of Finland s counselling and support services are available to patients, their loved ones and to others who need information about cancer. Quality care and good treatment create the circumstances for recovering from the disease. Peer support, counselling and rehabilitative support give patients strength and encouragement. The support of loved ones is for many patients the most important form of help they can have. The Cancer Society of Finland will also support patient s families and friends. The Cancer Society of Finland s goal is that cancer patients do not have to cope alone. They will know their rights and that they are can receive sufficient information about their state of health, treatment and various opportunities to 12 13
improve their own and their loved ones quality of life. They will be free to choose for themselves forms of peer support that fit their experience. Although two thirds of those who have cancer recover from the disease, the remaining third of patients live with cancer for the rest of their lives. Incurable cancer shortens a patient s life and will likely lead in the final stages to symptoms that undermine quality of life. The Cancer Society of Finland will work to ensure that everyone is entitled to receive good symptomatic treatment throughout their illness. The Cancer Foundation will support the strengthening of expertise in palliative treatments in Finland. Everyone must be entitled to a good quality of life regardless of the severity of their illness. The Cancer Society of Finland and Cancer Foundation will strengthen cancer research Cancer is one of the biggest challenges facing medical scientific research. When we compare the success of various other areas of research, cancer research in Finland is among the best. Finnish cancer research is internationally renowned and is influential in all the main branches of research: biomedicine, translational, clinical and epidemiological. The Cancer Foundation has played a key role in supporting cancer research. The Foundation will bolster its support and work in such a way that research is on an even higher level. A unique feature of the Cancer Society of Finland internationally and particular strength nationally is the Finnish Cancer Registry. The Cancer Society of Finland has maintained this since 1952, and the Cancer Foundation has supported its research work. Thanks to the Cancer Society of Finland, the Registry has developed into an indispensible and reliable producer of information and data for decision-making, and into an internationally esteemed research institution. The Cancer Society of Finland will guarantee the operating conditions and development of the Finnish Cancer Registry. The national comprehensive cancer centre Finland (FICAN), the establishment of which is being actively promoted by the Cancer Society of Finland, is a new and important opportunity to boost cancer research in Finland. The Cancer Society of Finland, Cancer Foundation and Finnish Cancer Registry will be involved in building up the cancer centre, each playing its natural role. The Cancer Society of Finland is a strong and proficient entity in a changing world The ability of the Cancer Society of Finland and its member associations, as well as the Cancer Foundation to achieve Finnish cancer research is internationally renowned and is influential in all the main branches of research their intended impact is rooted in the Cancer Society of Finland s unity, commitment in all their activities, the expertise and professional working methods of their governing structures and personnel, results-oriented management, and sustainable financial base. The shifting operational environment will require, on the one hand, organisation and courage to promote this collectivelyagreed strategy, and, on the other, agility and sound expertise. Agility requires us to recognise change, to have the ability to pick up faint signals and the readiness to draw the right conclusions amidst a changing situation. Being able to respond in the right way requires courage on the part of management and when necessary rapid decision-making. It is also be necessary to prepare for change financially. The Cancer Society of Finland s income base will rely on bequests, income from investments, support from the Cancer Foundation, and assistance from the Finnish Slot Machine Association and the National Institute for Welfare and Health, as well as other external funding (e.g. from abroad). The Cancer Society of Finland will not levy membership subscriptions from the member associations during the period of the strategy. In order to strengthen the work of the organisation, it may by common decision collect funds from member associations if necessary. The Cancer Foundation s fundraising will be goal oriented, systematic and professional. The goal of fundraising is to ensure that as many people as possible will choose the Cancer Foundation as the recipient of donations, and will commit themselves to donating to the Foundation in the long term. The fundraising strategy will be carried out through high visibility, commitment and development. The Cancer Society of Finland has for many years collaborated with the business world, and will further such collaboration in the future too. The core values of the Cancer Society of Finland and the Cancer Foundation s partnerships will continue to be strong ethical principles and preservation of independence. The Cancer Society of Finland and the Cancer Foundation will comply with the principles of good governance in all decision making, preparation of decisions and all their activities. Activities will be reported transparently and accurately. 14 15
Printed by Grano Ltd Year 2015 Agency Gyllene Tider Cancer Society of Finland Unioninkatu 22, FI-00130 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 135 331 www.cancer.fi