Jump to content

Syöpäjärjestöjen sivut

Other sites of Cancer Society of Finland
- Support us and donate
  - - - MAKE A DONATION TO CANCER RESEARCH AND CANCER SUFFERERS
        
        Make a donation to cancer research and cancer patients. Every euro donated brings us closer to a future where no one has to lose their loved one to cancer.
      - Support us and donate
- Cancer Society of Finland
  - - - Cancer Society of Finland
        
        Cancer organizations is a strong and competent organization whose goal is to secure a good life for everyone without cancer and in spite of cancer. The organization offers information, support and hope. Cancer organizations mean those formed by the Finnish Cancer Society and the Cancer Foundation
      - Cancer Society
      - Cancer registery
      - Cancer foundation
      - Cancer prevention
- Health Promotion
  - - - Cancer organizations maintain several sites intended for different target groups
      - Without cancer
      - Fressis.fi
      - FressisEdu
      - Tobaccobody
- Member Organizations
- National Patient Organisations
  - - - National patient organizations
        
        The Finnish Cancer Society includes six national patient organizations. National patient organizations provide information and support to cancer patients, their relatives and those concerned about cancer.
      - Association of Cancer Patients in Finland
      - Finnish association for children and young people with cancer SYLVA (in Finnish)

Search

Choose language

Apua ja tukea Avautuu uudessa ikkunassa

For patients
- Diagnosis – It can’t be true!
  - - - Reactions are part of adaptation
        
        Receiving a cancer diagnosis can feel like a lightning strike that changes your life and shatters your basic sense of security. When you hear of a confirmed diagnosis, it can be difficult to process the information in the moment.
      - Diagnosis – It can’t be true!
- Cancer and sexuality
  - - - Having cancer can affect your sexuality in many ways
        
        These always vary from person to person. Sexuality is often seen as relating only to eroticism and sex. In reality it is much broader in scope.
      - Cancer and sexuality
- Cancer and work
  - - - How should you tell them at work that you have cancer?
        
        When you are diagnosed with cancer, the first thing that may come to mind is that there will be a long period off work. But as with many other illnesses, cancer does not necessarily result in work incapacity or being off work for a long period.
      - Cancer and work
- Cancer and your finances
  - - - It is best not to delay applying for benefits, as many may have deadlines
        
        Having cancer can radically undermine your and your family’s financial situation. Even in the early stages of the disease it is good to bear in mind that dealing with various expenses, benefits and reimbursements will require some effort on your part
      - Cancer and your finances
- Exercise and cancer
  - - - When you have cancer, exercise is important in terms of your wellbeing and recovery
        
        Following treatment, rehabilitation begins the better and quicker you start exercising. Physical activity and light exercise increase muscle strength and give you energy.
      - Exercise and cancer
      - When to avoid certain types of exercise
- Good nutrition
  - - - Cancer affects a person’s diet and eating habits in many ways
        
        The illness can in itself cause weight loss, lack of appetite or other problems associated with eating. Surgical treatment may affect swallowing or the functioning of the digestive tract. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and changes to one’s sense of taste and smell.
      - Good nutrition
      - Problems related to eating
- Cancer and fertility
Facts about cancer
- What is cancer?
  - - - There is no completely clear-cut definition of cancer
        
        Cancer is a general term for a large group of diseases, whose causes, characteristics and occurrence can vary greatly. There are over 260 000 people in Finland who have had cancer at some stage in their lifetime.
      - What is cancer?
- Cancer treatments
  - - - Cancer treatments are being continually developed
        
        Increasingly more effective and better-targeted treatments are available. As treatment has developed, the outcomes have improved. Treatment outcomes in Finland are outstanding by international comparisons.
      - Cancer treatments
  - - - Targeted drugs
- Cancer types
  - - - The situation of each cancer patient is unique
        
        Cancer is not a unitary disease but a large group of diseases that include many different cancers. Their causes, symptoms and forms of treatment differ from one another.
      - Cancer types
- Cancer genetics
  - - - Cancer is not inherited
        
        Cancer is only the genetic defect that can lead to cancer that is inherited, which means that the predisposition to getting cancer, or increased risk, can be inherited.
      - Cancer genetics
- Cancer patients’ rights
  - - - Health services must be available equitably
        
        Patients are entitled to receive good health and medical care and treatment that do not violate their human dignity, beliefs or privacy. Finland has a law on the status and rights of patients.
      - Cancer patients’ rights
- Chronic cancer
  - - - Living with chronic cancer
        
        Cancer cannot always be cured permanently, but the spread of the disease can be stopped or slowed down. This is called chronic cancer. Chronic cancer can progress very slowly or remain unchanged.
      - Chronic cancer
      - Palliative and hospice care
      - When death is near
For family and friends
- Supporting a person who is ill
  - - - The illness affects the quality of both your lives
        
        Seeing a loved one suffering and in pain can make you feel helpless and insecure. You both have your own suffering to deal with. You would like to be there to support and help them, but you don’t know how or in what way.
      - Supporting a person who is ill
    - - Lesbian Couple, selective focus on hands
- Your well-being while caring for a sick loved one
- Loved ones’ grief
  - - - The death of a loved one and the ensuing grief is a long process with many stages
        
        The thoughts and feelings of loved ones about the impending death of their family member or friend may be conflicted. The closer the patient is to you, the harder it is to let go.
      - Loved ones’ grief
After cancer
- How to go on?
  - - - Once your treatments are over, your recovery from cancer is often just beginning
        
        For more and more people, cancer can be cured or at least controlled so that you can live a near-normal life. The end of treatment can feel both relieving and frightening at the same time.
      - How to go on?
- Back to work after cancer
  - - - How to make going back to work succeed?
        
        A long absence from work may require support, flexibility and rehabilitation. The best results come from cooperation between the employer, employee and occupational health service.
      - Back to work after cancer
- Follow-up care
  - - - Follow-up is needed to detect adverse effects of treatment and recurrence of the cancer
        
        After treatment, you will be followed up. Cancer patients are followed up at regular intervals. Follow-up varies depending on the type of cancer and how far the cancer has spread. You may receive follow-up care for some time after treatment in a specialist hospital and then transfer to primary care.
      - Follow-up care
    - - auringonlasku meri ranta vesi mies alaston uimari
Services
- Advice Services
  - - - Do you want to discuss cancer or its treatment?
        
        The Cancer Society of Finland’s advice services are designed for everyone concerned about cancer and matters related to it. The advice services’ oncology nurses offer information and support.
      - Advice Services
- Peer support
  - - - Peer support often makes things easier for patients and their loved ones
        
        You can get peer support either in a small group or on one to one basis. You can get peer support either face to face or online.
      - Peer support
- Courses
  - - - Courses are organised mainly in Finnish
        
        The Cancer Society of Finland provides diffrent types of courses for cancer patients and their loved ones.
      - Courses
- Rehabilitation in public sector
  - - - Are you wondering about rehabilitation?
        
        You can get rehabilitation from the public healthcare side if your illness and its treatments have affected your ability to work and function and survive in everyday life.
      - Rehabilitation in public sector
- Discussions
  - - - Read and participate in the discussion
        
        Peer support is often important for cancer patients and their loved ones. Cancer organizations offer the opportunity to discuss online in the discussion forum.
      - Discussions
English

All about cancer » Thank you for the feedback

Thank you for the feedback

Thank you for your valuable feedback! Your answer has been saved.

After cancer Facts about cancer For family and friends

For patients
Facts about cancer
For family and friends
Services
Give feedback
Discussions

Contact information

Syöpäjärjestöt
Unioninkatu 22, 00130 Helsinki
puh. 09 135 331

[email protected] ↗ Opens in a new window

Become a member

There are more than 110,000 of us. Join a cancer association operating in your area or a national patient organization, and participate in the important work done by cancer organizations.

Join us ↗ Opens in a new window

In social media

X Opens in a new window Facebook Opens in a new window YouTube Opens in a new window

All about cancer © 2025 Data protection (in finnish) Accessibility Statement Contact information of cancer organizations ↗ Opens in a new window

Advice Services

You can chat with a specialist cancer nurse - or call or send a message. The counseling service of cancer organizations is intended for you who are affected by cancer.

Chat

You can chat with the nurse between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. You will see a chat icon on the site in the lower right corner.

Free phone consultation

The helpline is available at 0800 19414. The nurse answers the phone on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The service is free of charge.

Peer support

You can get peer support both one-on-one with a support person and in a peer group. Peer support is available both face-to-face and remotely.