How radiation oncology emerged as a discipline in Finland.

Abstract

The news about the discovery of Röntgen's new rays spread over Finland quite early, and the first Finnish writing about the rays appeared in February 1896. The first x-ray machine was installed in 1897. Proper training of radiologists began, however, at a comparatively late date. For a long time the position of radiologists remained a subordinate one. Radiology had the nature of a spare time hobby, because in most hospitals surgeons treated x-ray machines as a sideline. Because of this, scientific research work was delayed. The specialty of x-ray diagnosis and therapy was, however, established in 1921, and the Finnish Society of Radiology was founded in 1924. The first radiotherapy department with its own beds was opened in 1936 in Helsinki. In 1950, the first professor of medical radiology was appointed at the University of Helsinki. The Finnish Cancer Society played an important role in developing the radiotherapy net in the country by supplying cobalt devises and auxiliary hospital activities in the 1960s. In the early 1960s roentgen diagnosis and radiotherapy were separated into two distinct disciplines. There are now five medical faculties with chairs in radiation oncology. The country is divided into five regions for cancer care. The managing groups in each region are headed by the professor of radiotherapy and oncology. The radiation oncologists in Finland are involved in diagnosis and staging of cancer and are responsible for radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormones. They are responsible for follow-up of treated patients, their own wards, and the general care of their patients.