Finnish Cancer Registry (Syöpärekisteri) Information

The Finnish Cancer Registry is a statistical and epidemiological research institute maintained by the Cancer Society of Finland. The main task of the Finnish Cancer Registry is to assess the causes and impacts of cancer burden and the effectiveness of cancer screening programmes in the population. The Finnish Cancer Registry maintains the national registry of the National Institute for Health and Welfare on all cancer cases in Finland. The Mass Screening Registry, which is a part of the Finnish Cancer Registry, regulates the implementation of cancer screening programmes and evaluates screenings nationwide. Founded in 1952, the Finnish Cancer Registry participates and undertakes significant national and international research collaborations. Over the decades there have been an estimated 1500 scientific articles and over 100 doctoral theses written in which the Finnish Cancer Registry’s researchers or data have played a key role. The nationwide registration of cancers in Finland began in 1953. Since 1961, it has been compulsory to send notifications of cancer cases. The Finnish Cancer Registry has been forerunner of conducting major screening studies in the world. The Mass Screening Registry has operated since 1968 and has collected cervical cancer screening data since 1963. Data on breast cancer screening has been collected to the register since the beginning of the screening in 1987.