Breast cancer screening programmes in selected European countries and Poland

Abstract

Breast neoplasms are the most common malignant tumors among women. In recent years breast cancer incidence rate has increased. Due to this fact the European Union presents evidence-based guidelines on breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Recommended and commonly used screening test is mammography. The effectiveness of prophylaxis is measured by a decrease in breast cancer mortality rate. Detailed recommendations in EU member countries differ from those presented by the EU institutions. This paper compares the screening programme in Poland to screening programmes in other EU members. The evaluation considers compliance with European screening guidelines and changes in mortality rates since the introduction of the screening programs. General guidelines in Poland are close to European ones. However, some Polish health centers still use analog mammography instead of recommended digital mammography. Furthermore, mortality rate changes in Poland maintain on a constant level due to women’s reluctant participation in screening tests.

Coordinated medical care program for neurofibromatosis type 1 children and adolescents in Poland influences the future of their affected parents: a single academic reference center experience and national program description.

“…Despite favorable mortality trends since the 1990's in Europe [40], Poland is the only country where the BRCA mortality rate is currently increasing [41]. The disease progresses to an advanced stage in 30% of women with BRCA in Poland, and in 5-10% of patients it is diagnosed when it has already metastasized to other organs [42]. It results mostly from the fact that Polish women disregard the need of preventive examinations ([43] and recent not published data of the Polish National Health Fund discussed in [44]) and the fact, that the Population Program for Early Detection of Breast Cancer targets women aged 50 to 69 and women with proven genetic predispositions to BRCA.…”

Poland’s Breast Self-Exams: Empowering Awareness

“…When performed, BSE increases breast cancer awareness which means knowledge of the personal/family history, risk factors for breast cancer, and anatomical structure and appearance of one's own breast [23,24]. When performing BSE, women have an opportunity to observe and feel their breast, to be familiar with the texture of their normal breast tissue, and how it changes at different times of the month and with age, report changes without delay, and attend for breast screening when aged 50 and over [25,26].…”