Finnish cancer patients die earlier than in other Nordic countries

Finnish cancer patients have significantly poorer survival rates than those in other Nordic countries, according to an investigation by Yle’s MOT programme. Doctors are calling for a national discussion on how patients should be treated.

Survival rates for Finnish patients are the worst in the Nordics for around 20 types of cancer in men, while women fare better overall but still lag behind in many cancers. The differences vary by cancer type, with some showing minor gaps and others substantial ones. The data, based on the Nordcan database of Nordic cancer statistics, measures the share of patients alive five years after diagnosis.

Finland performs well in treating common cancers such as breast and prostate cancer, but outcomes for lung cancer are notably worse than in neighbouring countries. Finnish men with colorectal cancer also have the poorest prognosis in the Nordics, while women fare better.

Doctors identify multiple systemic issues

Antti Jekunen, professor of clinical oncology at the University of Turku and chief physician at the Ostrobothnia welfare region, described the situation as alarming.

“Our progress isn’t keeping pace with other Nordic countries. It feels like something fundamental is being done better elsewhere,” he said.

A University of Helsinki study on lung cancer found that Finnish patients face longer waits to see a doctor in primary care and receive fewer imaging tests early in treatment. A recent doctoral thesis from the University of Eastern Finland also noted that lung cancer is diagnosed at a more advanced stage in Finland than elsewhere in the Nordics, often ruling out surgery as an option.

Maria Silvoniemi, a pulmonary disease specialist at Turku University Hospital, said delays in diagnosis and treatment increase the likelihood of cancer spreading, worsening patient outcomes.

Low use of advanced drugs may play a role

Jekunen and Silvoniemi suggested that Finland’s limited use of new immuno-oncology (IO) drugs—compared to many other European countries—could partly explain the poorer results. A 2023 report by Sweden’s Institute for Health Economics highlighted this disparity.

“These drugs likely have some impact on our treatment outcomes,” Silvoniemi said.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy, IO drugs activate the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. For some with advanced disease, they can extend survival by years or even eliminate the cancer entirely. Doctors estimate that around one-fifth of patients benefit significantly from IO therapies, though they are not effective for everyone.

Ministry acknowledges delays in primary care

The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health admitted that access to primary care is slow and said efforts are underway to improve it. The ministry also emphasised patients’ personal responsibility for their health.