The Norwegian Cancer Society (NCS) is a nation-wide, non-profit voluntary organisation. We work to reduce the incidence of cancer, and to increase the recovery rate and life quality of cancer sufferers.
Our main activities - Patient services – funding of patients’ organisations
- Research – allocating funding for basic research, epidemiological surveys, clinical, patient and prevention studies
- Prevention – educational and awareness raising programs focused on smoking, nutrition, skin cancer, etc.
- Advocacy – influencing national and international social/health policy
- International activities – support for global cancer control programs and research
With no state funding, we rely on the generosity and support of 140,000 members and permanent donors, partner organisations and the general public to carry out our work.
The organization We aim to be highly visible and easily approachable, and this is reflected in the way we are organized centrally and locally. Three central departments; the Department of Cancer Concerns, the Communications and Fund-raising Department and the Administration and Finance Department allow us to work effectively at international, national and local levels.
The Cancer Society has seven district branches providing services to patients, relatives and professional people throughout the country. These branches are situated in Tromsø, Trondheim, Bergen, Kristiansand, Tønsberg, Hamar and Oslo.
The branch offices are staffed by health and social welfare professionals who provide information and cancer counselling to individuals, families and groups. All services are confidential. Courses for patients and relatives, of all ages, and all stages of cancer, are also available free of charge.
We also cooperate with and fund eight voluntary patients’ associations nationwide. They provide patient care, recreation and information services to their members and play a key role in influencing local authorities and health personnel.
Research Cancer research has been our most important task since 1948. We allocate half of our funds for clinical, experimental, epidemiological and alternative /complementary research. In 2008, we received 243 applications and granted support amounting to 125,9 million Norwegian kroners.
Research grant applications are considered by 5 specialist groups who submit proposals to a Research Committee. The Committee then makes recommendations to the Society’s board, which makes the final decision. The NCS also has a Scientific Board, consisting of representatives of the different professional fields from all parts of Norway. Its key task is to identify areas of research that should receive special priority.
Further information on NCS cancer research applications is available here.
