The purpose of the project is to test and develop cancer quality registry for various types of cancer. The goal is to understand how monitoring treatment quality can be adapted to the specific characteristics of different cancers and their data collection processes from national registries. In 2025, the implementation of data collection and reporting for myeloma will be piloted.
“Specifically, the aim is to determine how registry data for non-solid cancers can be effectively collected and reported,” says Janne Pitkäniemi, Director of the Finnish Cancer Registry.
Myeloma is a complex cancer of the bone marrow and blood, and its pharmaceutical treatments have significantly advanced over the past two decades. As a result, the prognosis of the disease has also improved substantially. The timely use of new medications is one of the key factors in improving myeloma treatment outcomes.
“It is great that this study is being initiated, as there has long been a need for systematic and comprehensive information on the implementation of myeloma treatment and its outcomes in our country,” states Mervi Putkonen, Chair of the Finnish Myeloma Group.
Ongoing Development of the Lung Cancer Report
The first report on lung cancer treatment aimed to assess the availability of necessary data from national registries and to evaluate the outcomes of how lung cancer treatment in Finland. The results of the report provided evidence of regional differences in diagnostics and treatment practices. However, the report also revealed significant gaps in treatment data and its availability.
“Now that the report has been published, it is essential to involve professionals from different regions in the development, hear their perspectives on the reported data, and jointly identify the most important areas for improvement for the next report,” says Timo Nykopp, Chief Medical Officer at the Finnish Cancer Center.
In 2025, national peer development activities among lung cancer experts will focus on a more detailed analysis of the report’s findings and the identification of key areas for further development. Additionally, the project will define the first national outcome and quality indicators for lung cancer and test the expansion of the registry’s data foundation, for example, by incorporating information on medication purchases and reimbursements from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).
For more information:
Janne Pitkäniemi, Director, Finnish Cancer Registry, Tel. +358 50 3723335, janne.pitkaniemi@cancer.fi
Timo Nykopp, Chief Medical Officer, National Cancer Center (FICAN), timo.nykopp@hus.fi
Jonna Salonen, Director of Quality Registry Operations, THL, Tel. +358 29 524 7171, jonna.salonen@thl.fi
The Finnish Cancer Registry and the Finnish Cancer Center FICAN, in collaboration with Finnish Institution of Health and Welfare (THL), have launched a research project to explore the establishment of a national cancer quality registries. The primary objective of the project is to assess how existing national registry data can be used to measure cancer treatment implementation and outcomes in Finland, as well as to determine how a national cancer quality registry should be established. The work is being carried out in cooperation with national cancer-specific expert groups. The research project will continue until the end of 2027.
