Suomen Syöpäpotilaat - Cancerpatienterna i Finland ry

What Suomen Syöpäpotilaat - Cancerpatienterna i Finland ry does

Suomen Syöpäpotilaat - Cancerpatienterna i Finland ry is a Finnish non-profit cancer patient organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Helsinki. Operating under the Syöpäjärjestöt (Cancer Organizations) umbrella alongside regional cancer associations, the Cancer Registry, and Syöpä­säätiö, it serves as the national patient voice for people diagnosed with cancer and their families across Finland (excluding Åland). The organization employs approximately 8 staff and operates free of charge to users, funded through donations under a national fundraising permit (RA/2020/1620), membership fees, and grants.

Its core offerings are content- and community-driven rather than technology-driven. The product portfolio centers on Potilasoppaat (Patient Guides) covering multiple cancer types in both digital and print formats; Potilasverkostot (Patient Networks), which are condition-specific Facebook peer support groups spanning CLL, MPN, sarcoma, myeloma, and other cancers; EUPATI Suomi, a patient-education program on medicine development and clinical research that the organization coordinates nationally; and "Syöpä ja työ" resources covering cancer-and-employment issues. Supplementary services include the Luoto support line connecting patients to oncology-experienced social and healthcare professionals, a quarterly newsletter, and a program of webinars and events.

The go-to-market is community-led and digital: outreach is conducted through the syopapotilaat.fi website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, newsletters, blogs, and webinars, with physical patient guides distributed by mail. In 2026 the organization expanded its international footprint by joining DiCE (Digestive Cancer Europe), ECLLA (European Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Association), and SPAGN (Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network), and co-produced Finland's first immigrant-targeted HPV and breast cancer screening animations with Tunne rintasi ry. The current Executive Director, Jenni Tamminen-Sirkiä, has led the organization since November 2023, with Liisa Halme Vuori as Board Chair.

Name

Suomen Syöpäpotilaat - Cancerpatienterna i Finland ry

Legal name

Suomen Syöpäpotilaat - Cancerpatienterna i Finland ry

Website

https://syopapotilaat.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Suomen Syöpäpotilaat - Cancerpatienterna i Finland ry is a Finnish non-profit cancer patient organization, founded in 1971, providing free peer support networks, patient guides, EUPATI education, and advocacy for cancer patients and their families across Finland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization collects donations through a licensed fundraising permit (RA/2020/1620) valid from 01.01.2021 across Finland (excluding Åland). Collected funds are used for peer support activities, information dissemination, and educational work to strengthen patient involvement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Suomen Syöpäpotilaat ry produces and distributes free cancer patient guides (Potilasoppaat) covering multiple cancer types, runs patient peer support networks (Potilasverkostot) on Facebook, delivers the EUPATI Suomi patient education program on medicine development and clinical research, provides cancer-and-work (Syöpä ja työ) guidance, and advocates for cancer patients in national health policy and HTA processes. All services are provided free of charge to cancer patients and their loved ones across Finland.

Product overview

Suomen Syöpäpotilaat ry operates as a cancer patient organization providing information, peer support, and advocacy for cancer patients in Finland. The organization's main offerings include a comprehensive portfolio of Patient Guides (Potilasoppaat) covering various cancer types, Patient Networks (Potilasverkostot) providing peer support through Facebook-based communities, EUPATI Suomi education program on medicine development, and Cancer and Work (Syöpä ja työ) resources for employment-related matters. Additional services include the Luoto support service connecting patients with healthcare professionals, quarterly newsletters, and various events and webinars. The organization is part of the broader Syöpäjärjestöt (Cancer Organizations) network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Potilasoppaat (Patient Guides) A comprehensive collection of patient guides covering various cancer types including skin cancer and testicular cancer. Available as downloadable PDFs and web versions on the organization's website, with paper copies available for order. Free of charge for cancer patients and their loved ones.
• Potilasverkostot (Patient Networks) Peer support networks operating on Facebook, providing cancer patients and their loved ones with community support. Covers various cancer types including CLL, MPN, myeloma, sarcoma, and other conditions through specialized groups.
• EUPATI Suomi Patient education program on medicine development, clinical research, and pharmaceutical safety coordinated by Suomen Syöpäpotilaat. Includes study groups, educational materials, animations, and recordings on topics like drug development cycles and pharmacovigilance. The 2026-2027 first study group meeting was held September 3rd, 2026 on pharmaceutical safety.
• Syöpä ja työ (Cancer and Work) Resources and support for cancer patients regarding work-related matters, with dedicated guidance for those who are ill, for professionals, and for those in rehabilitation. Covers work ability assessment and communication about cancer in the workplace.
• Vertaistuki (Peer Support) Peer support services connecting cancer patients with others who have similar experiences, offered through online networks and community activities.
• Luoto-tukipalvelu Cancer Organizations' support service providing free access to cancer-specialized social and healthcare professionals via phone, email, or chat.
• Tapahtumat ja webinaarit (Events and Webinars) Online and in-person events including webinars, lectures, and support groups. Includes topics such as CLL online meetings, EUPATI study groups, job search after cancer diagnosis, and gynecological cancer patient-researcher meetings.
• Uutiskirje (Newsletter)

Quantifiable outcome

• 363 cancer patients and loved ones participated in the organization's survey on healthcare client fees (May 2026)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and notable.

• SPAGN (Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Suomen Syöpäpotilaat ry is a member organization of SPAGN, an international network of sarcoma patient advocacy groups. The organization participates in SPAGN conferences and contributes to global advocacy efforts for sarcoma patients. In 2026, SPAGN had 78 member organizations from 30 countries.
• ECLLA (European Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026In spring 2026, Suomen Syöpäpotilaat ry joined ECLLA, which promotes chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) research and treatment in Europe. The organization brings valuable patient perspective and strengthens Nordic cooperation within the association.
• DiCE (Digestive Cancer Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DiCE is the European umbrella organization for patient organizations representing digestive cancer patients. Suomen Syöpäpotilaat ry became a member in early 2026 and participates in masterclasses, conferences, and advocacy work for gastrointestinal cancer patients.
• Syöpäjärjestöt (Cancer Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuomen Syöpäpotilaat ry is part of Syöpäjärjestöt, which includes regional cancer associations across Finland, Syöpärekisteri (Cancer Registry), and Syöpäsäätiö (Cancer Foundation). The organization collaborates on shared missions related to cancer prevention, treatment support, and patient advocacy.
• EUPATI FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUPATI (European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation) Finland is coordinated by Suomen Syöpäpotilaat. The initiative provides education on medicine development, clinical research, and patient involvement in health technology assessment for patients and patient representatives.
• SOSTEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOSTE is the Finnish Federation of Social Affairs and Health, representing organizations in social welfare and health sectors. Suomen Syöpäpotilaat participates in SOSTE events and initiatives, including organization cruises and advocacy activities.
• Precision Medicine ForumnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization's Executive Director Jenni Tamminen-Sirkiä was invited to speak and participate in a panel at the Precision Medicine Forum in Stockholm (May 2026), discussing patient involvement in cancer policy and strategy development.
• Tunne rintasi ry (Know Your Breast)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuomen Syöpäpotilaat collaborated with Tunne rintasi ry to produce animated videos on HPV vaccination and breast cancer screening, targeting immigrants. This was presented at the SOSTE organization cruise in May 2026.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cancerfonden (Swedish Cancer Society): Sweden's leading cancer fundraising and patient support organization. Comparable in scale, mission, patient-information services, and Nordic regulatory environment.
• Kræftens Bekæmpelse (Danish Cancer Society): Denmark's national cancer society with research, patient support, and prevention programs. Strong structural parallel in Nordic welfare-state cancer advocacy and information services.
• Syöpäsäätiö (Cancer Foundation of Finland): Sister organization within the Syöpäjärjestöt umbrella, focused on cancer research funding and prevention. Directly comparable as a Finnish cancer-focused non-profit with overlapping governance, donor base, and mission.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK cancer patient support charity providing information, peer support, financial guidance, and advocacy. Closely comparable in peer-support, patient-information, and patient-rights orientation.
• European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC): Europe's largest cancer patient umbrella organization with 450+ member organizations. Directly comparable as a pan-European advocacy network and the meta-level partner of which Suomen Syöpäpotilaat acts as a Finnish national affiliate.
• Kreftforeningen (Norwegian Cancer Society): Norway's national cancer society providing patient support, research funding, and advocacy. Closely comparable in scope, mission, and Nordic welfare-state context, making it the most relevant cross-border peer.

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Research UK: UK's largest cancer charity combining research funding with patient information and policy advocacy. Comparable in combining information services with policy influence, though with a heavier research-funding tilt.
• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer advocacy non-profit. Comparable mission in patient support, advocacy, and information services, but operates at vastly larger scale and in a different regulatory and funding environment.

Emerging players

• All.Can: International multi-stakeholder initiative focused on cancer care efficiency and patient outcomes. Comparable as a European/international cancer policy initiative with patient-advocacy participation, where the subject organization is a potential national affiliate.

Others

• SOSTE (Finnish Federation of Social Affairs and Health): Finnish umbrella federation for social welfare and health NGOs. Directly comparable as a domestic Finnish non-profit advocacy coalition of which Suomen Syöpäpotilaat is a member, with overlapping governance and policy channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Syopapotilaat
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9Qs-uxlMhU01r8myVHolNg
• Facebookfacebook.com/syopapotilaat
• Instagraminstagram.com/syopapotilaat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suomen-sy%C3%B6p%C3%A4potilaat---cancerpatienterna-i-finland-ry

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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