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The aim of the study was to analyze breast cancer (BC) mortality trends among women at the age of 45 years old and older (45+) in the 28 European Union (EU) countries, as well as in 3 non-EU countries-Norway, Switzerland and the Russian Federation (control group) within the period 1959-2017. Material and methods: Mortality and population data were sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) database, and age-standardized mortality rates were calculated using the standard world population. Changes in mortality trends were analyzed using Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software. Results: The majority of analyzed countries showed a meaningful decrease in BC mortality among women aged 45+. However, the results of our study suggest that there are 4 EU countries-Croatia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia-where increasing BC mortality trends started to be visible in the analyzed age group. Currently, the observed increase is still not significant, but the obtained data suggest the possibility of further continuation of the observed trend in the future. Moreover, in Bulgaria we also noted continuation of the increase in BC mortality (statistically significant). Conclusions: Due to the availability of better treatment options, as well as presence of effective tools for detecting BC at the early stages of progression, BC mortality is falling in most analyzed European countries. To maintain this situation and to stop BC mortality increase in the analyzed age group in Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, immediate actions for improvement of BC management in the European health care systems should be considered.

Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most malignant tumors, affecting men more frequently than women and constituting nearly 90% of all kidney tumors. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma has been described as a new histological type of renal cell carcinoma. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma constitutes up to 5% of all cases of kidney cancer. It is characterized by a significant number of deletions in many chromosomes, as well as the loss of entire chromosomes. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma arises from tubular cells or cells of the macula densa. In contrast to other types of kidney cancer, it occurs with equal frequency in men and women, mostly in the sixth decade of life. It is characterized by a relatively good prognosis and exhibits a low degree of malignancy. Histopathologic diagnosis of ChRCC can be a diagnostic challenge because these tumors may resemble oncocytoma or conventional cancer. Research by Mathers et al. proposed the use of cytokeratin 7 as a marker useful in the differentiation of these changes.

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Introduction. Since the 20 th century tobacco smoking has had an enormous impact on morbidity and mortality in the adult population, and it remains the greatest single preventable health risk factor worldwide. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Poland, with lung cancer as the primary cause of cancer-related death in Polish men and women. Given these statistics, this manuscript aims to estimate tobacco-attributable cancer mortality in Poland. Material and methods. Data on cancer mortality come from the WHO Mortality Statistics database. Data on smoking prevalence in Poland come from standardized surveys based on nationally representative samples. Data on relative risks come from the Cancer Prevention Study II. Tobacco-attributable fractions were calculated using standard methodology for calculating population-based attributable fractions. Results. In 2014, there were over 24 thousand tobacco-attributed cancer deaths in men. Lung cancer tops the list of ranked cancer types, with a tobacco-attributable fraction of 93%. Next is laryngeal (TAF = 90%), oropharyngeal (TAF = 86%) and esophageal (TAF = 80%) cancer. Overall, two-thirds of the considered cancer deaths were attributed to tobacco smoke (TAF = 75%). In 2014, there were over 7.5 thousand of cancer deaths related to smoking in women. Here, both laryngeal and lung cancer (both TAF = 76%) top the ranked list. Next are esophageal (TAF = 61%) and oropharyngeal (TAF = 51%) cancers, and when combined almost half of all considered cancer deaths were attributed to tobacco smoke (TAF = 44%). Conclusions. Tobacco smoking and tobacco-attributable cancer mortality remain one of the greatest health burdens in Poles. Each year over 30 thousand Polish men and women die of cancer caused by smoking. All these deaths could be avoided. NOWOTWORY J Oncol 2017; 67, 4: 227-235

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Authors' contribution Wkład autorów: A. Study design/planning zaplanowanie badań B. Data collection/entry zebranie danych C. Data analysis/statistics dane-analiza i statystyki D. Data interpretation interpretacja danych E. Preparation of manuscript przygotowanie artykułu F. Literature analysis/search wyszukiwanie i analiza literatury G. Funds collection zebranie funduszy Summary Background. Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant cancer among women in Poland. As we do not have sufficient knowledge about origin of this disease, women's awareness and attitudes concerning the few well-known BC risk factors play a key role in the prevention and early detection of BC. Material and methods. The questionnaire was answered by 380 women, 45 years and older, in Poland between May and August 2017. This randomly selected research group included subjects with a prior history of BC, a current diagnosis of BC, and healthy women without any history of BC in the past. Women were asked about their knowledge and attitudes concerning BC risk factors. Collected data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, taking into account place of residence and education level. Results. Among probable BC risk factors, the most commonly indicated by the women were gene mutations (60%), long-term use of hormonal contraception (49%) and overweight and obesity (38%). The most rarely indicated factors were late full-term pregnancy (12%), childlessness (21%) and alcohol consumption (26%). About 72% of the respondents assessed their knowledge about BC as good or very good, but only 41% of this group indicated overweight and obesity-one of the strongest risk factors-as contributing to BC. Moreover, only 26% of women who assessed themselves as having a high level of knowledge perceived alcohol consumption as a risk factor. Conclusions. Results suggest that education in this age group should be more efficient and more focused on raising awareness about well-known BC risk factors.