Experts stress importance of cancer screenings in Finland’s healthcare debate

Experts interviewed by Yle emphasize the importance of cancer screenings, asserting that their benefits outweigh the costs. This statement comes in light of a discussion about potential reductions in public healthcare services from a recent Yle article. The leaders of the Satakunta and Päijät-Häme welfare regions, Kirsi Varhila and Petri Virolainen, shared their thoughts on the issue.

Varhila suggested cuts to colorectal cancer screenings, arguing the evidence supporting these screenings is not as compelling as that for mammograms or cervical cancer screenings. In contrast, Virolainen proposed directing screenings towards specific age groups based on genetic risk.

The primary goal of cancer screenings is early detection. Vesa Jormanainen, a medical adviser at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, noted that discussions around screenings often arise without in-depth knowledge or supporting evidence among participants. He added that the impact of screenings is evaluated based on the disease’s significance to public health, the disease’s detectability, the acceptance of diagnostic methods, and clear guidelines for treatment.

Aapeli Nevala from the Finnish Cancer Registry challenged Varhila’s views, stating that evidence for colorectal cancer screenings has been robust since the 1990s. He pointed out that current testing methods might reduce colorectal cancer mortality by 25-40%.

In screenings conducted in 2022, 581 cancers and 3,950 precancerous lesions were detected among participants. These results highlight the effectiveness of the current program compared to previous methods.

Moving forward, Finland aims to enhance screening efficiency by focusing on groups with a genetic predisposition to cancer, potentially leading to significant healthcare savings. However, utilizing national registry data for this purpose would require legislative changes.