Poland's oncology profile: higher mortality and inequalities in access to treatment

Survival rates for cancer patients have increased, mortality rates have decreased by 12 percent is the number of cancer cases has increased by 24 percent over the past few years. More than half of cancer cases involve four major types: colorectal, lung, prostate and breast cancer, with breast cancer being most common among women and prostate cancer among men. Summarizing the findings of the country reports, the study's authors point out inequalities, especially in lower-income countries - Poland is one example, as in our profile the topic of differential opportunities for rapid access to diagnosis and treatment and also access to services of equal quality is raised several times, in different contexts. A strong differentiating factor is gender (the highest mortality rates are in men), and the differences are exacerbated by education level - men with lower education are a particularly disadvantaged group (not only in Poland).

The authors of the report note that in the European Union the health status associated with smoking and alcohol consumption has improved, a growing threat in the context of cancer is overweight and obesity: the problem already affects more than half of EU adults. Many EU countries have seen a decline in breast cancer and cervical cancer screening in recent years. This signals the need for greater investment in public education and the organization of preventive screenings.

And what information comes from the Polish profile? We compare unfavorably with the EU average. We still have better incidence rates, but higher-than-average cancer mortality, worse five-year survival rates. On the other hand, the report notes that cancer mortality in Poland has declined at a rate comparable to the EU average and higher than the group of countries with a similar level of economic development.

We fared unfavorably in terms of risk factors. Very bad in terms of levels of air pollution and occupational exposures, we were not evaluated in terms of HPV vaccination (the report only notes that it took off in 2023). Indicators for stimulant consumption, overweight and obesity, and physical activity look bad. The best (which is not to say good) - consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Information on the use of stimulants, both alcohol and cigarettes, is also disturbing - young Poles do it more often than average EU citizens. Electronic cigarettes are used, the report says, by 30 percent of Polish teenagers.