Cancer

The trend of the time series of cancer from all sites, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, show an increase in the number of new cases per 1 000 000 inhabitants increase in all the Nordic countries in the latest decades. When accounting for differences in the age structure of the populations (age-standardization), the trend is less uniform where some countries show decrease (see the graphs right below here). 

All of the Nordic countries have population-based cancer registries and all the countries except for Sweden have centralised coding and classification. The Danish Cancer Registry is the oldest and was founded in 1942. A decade later, in 1952-1954, the Norwegian, Finnish and Icelandic cancer registries were established. The Swedish cancer registry was founded in 1958. Data from the national registries is used for research and administrative and political purposes. It is also to some extent accessible to media and to the public.

Both external and internal factors that produce changes in the DNA material can cause cancer. Stimulants, foodstuffs, exposure to some occupational hazards and factors in the environment have been shown to be cancer inducing. The incidence of cancer also increases with age. On a more positive note, however, it is estimated that around 40 per cent of cancer incidents can be avoided through healthier lifestyle choices, the main factors being tobacco, alcohol and overweight. Furthermore, steps can be taken in working environments to avoid exposure to cancer causing elements.

The development of cancer diseases in the Nordic countries remains analogous for most of the cancer types in the NWHSTAT data collection, but there are interesting trends. 

E.g., for stomach cancer, most countries showed a decrease in the number of persons per 1 000 000 diagnosed with cancer throughout the entire span of the time series – and Greenland as well in the recent decade. 

The incidence of tobacco-related cancers, such as lung cancer, is high in all the countries. However, the incidence of lung cancer among men is decreasing. Please note that the curve for Greenland has been disabled – click on Greenland to enable the curve. 

Screening systematically for cancer will detect precancerous lesions or early stages of cancer within the population. Among the Nordic countries, most of them have nationwide screening programmes for breast cancer, cervix cancer, and colorectal cancer (please see below).

Breast cancer

All Nordic countries excluding Greenland have a breast cancer screening programme with small differences in the included age groups. The incidence of breas cancer per 1 000 000 woman (age-standardized) increases over the recent decades. 

Cervix cancer 

All Nordic countries have cervix cancer included in their cancer screening programme. Also here are small differences in age groups. 

For a cancer type as cervix uteri, the general trend of the time series of the all the Nordic countries is stable. The curves of the smaller countries such as Åland and Greenland diverges rather much up and down, which is due to the small numbers of cases and population. 

In the near future the effect of the HPV vaccination programmes will make the screening of cervix cancer less relevant for young women. However, the screening will remain relevant because a share of the populations has not received the vaccine, and since not all cancers of the cervix are caused by the HPV.

Colorectal cancer

Screening for colorectal cancer currently offered in all countries except Faroe Islands and Greenland. For Finland and Åland it is quite new and offered since 2022. 

Nationwide screening programmes for prostate and testis cancer in the Nordic countries is not currently ongoing as of 2024, despite pilotprojects in some countries are helping to consider this. However, please see the extent of these male diseases are shown below. Between prostate and testis cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer.