University Students’ vs. Lay People’s Perspectives on Organ Donation and Improving Health Communication in Poland

Given that organ transplant is a standard medical technology admitted in medical practice, and taking into consideration that Polish transplantology is regarded among the most advanced in the world one should expect to find similarly high levels of acceptance in interviewees asked for their opinion on vital organ transplantation and their willingness to donate a paired organ ex vivo, or a vital organ ex mortuo in order to rescue the life of a recipient with a missing vital organ. The paper presents research build on the societal assessment of vital organ donation and transplant policies in Poland with the focus on students. Data have been collected at three different universities (Boratyński et al., Questionnaire on the Bases of Transplantation Medicine 2016/7). Various assessments concerning a vital organ donation have been observed. The authors discuss educational factors contributing to these variety including factual knowledge and ethical issues

Cancer incidence and mortality in Greater Poland Province in 2006 – Report

Greater Poland is a region of high cancer risk in Poland. Standardized rates for cancer incidence among man and woman are the highest in Poland. Standardized rates for cancer deaths are also very high (4th place for men and 2nd for woman).When analysing the absolute numbers of cases and deaths among men in Greater Poland for last eight years, we observe increase of cases number by 16,14% and deaths by 10,85%.Most common cancer incidence sites in Greater Poland for man are: lung, colorectum and prostate. Among woman breast, colorectum and lung.Most common cancer deaths sites in men are: lung, colorectum and stomach. Among woman breast, lung and colorectum.When analysing standardized rates for malignant tumors morbidity and mortality among men and women, we see clearly that increase of number of new cancer cases and deaths is determined first of all by ageing in Greater Poland population.Lung cancer in Greater Poland is situated in first three most common cancer sites by incidence and mortality. Region has a medium lung cancer incidence and mortality compare to other voivodships. In analyzed period (1999–2006) lung cancer incidence and mortality among men has decreased. Unfortunately the same trend is not observed among women.High breast cancer incidence is very typical for Greater Poland. Analysis of standardized rates shows that Greater Poland is on 3rd place by breast cancer incidence and on the 4th place by breast cancer mortality. The most important and at the same time the cheapest method to eliminate tumors is prophylactics and screening

The impact of cancer incidence and stage on optimal utilization of radiotherapy: Methodology of a population based analysis by the ESTRO-HERO project

Background and purpose: The impact of differences in the distribution of major cancer sites and stages at diagnosis among 4 European countries on the optimal utilization proportion (OUP) of patients who should receive external beam radiotherapy was assessed within the framework of the ESTRO-HERO project. Materials and methods: Data from Australian Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CCORE) were used. Population based stages at diagnosis from the cancer registries of Belgium, Slovenia, the Greater Poland region of Poland, and The Netherlands were used to assess the OUP for each country. A sensitivity analysis was carried out. Results: The overall OUP by country varied from the lowest of 48.3% in Australia to the highest of 53.4% in Poland; among European countries the variation was limited to 3%. Cancer site specific OUPs showed differences according to the variability in stage at diagnosis across countries. The most important impact on the OUP by country was due to changes in relative frequency of tumours rather than stage at diagnosis. Conclusions: This methodology can be adapted using European data, thus facilitating the planning of resources required to cope with the demand for radiotherapy in Europe, taking into account the national variability in cancer incidence

Cancer incidence in the Greater Poland region as compared to Europe

Greater Poland is a region with a high risk of cancer. In terms of age-standardised incidence rate, it is ranked 2nd for men and 3rd for women out of Poland’s 16 provinces. Incidence structure in the region of Greater Poland is similar to that in other West European countries. The most common cancers in men are lung, prostate and colorectal, in women: breast, colorectal and lung. In 2016, nearly every third cancer-related death in the region was caused by lung cancer. In women, it was cause no. one. The incidence of chronic diseases, including cancer, is expected to further grow in view of the global ageing of the population. This means that malignancies will remain to be a major challenge for public health care.in the Greater Poland region

Cancer incidence and mortality in the Greater Poland Region—Analysis of the year 2010 and future trends

Background and aimThe Greater Poland Region is one of the most industrialised areas of Poland, with a high rate of cancer incidence and mortality. The present report estimated incidence and mortality data for Greater Poland in the year 2010.MethodsStatistical reports in this study include absolute number of cases and crude incidence rates. The derived age-, sex-, and site specific rates were age-standardised (ASRs per 100,000 person-years) using the European (ASRE) standard population.ResultsIn 2010, a total 13,581 new cancer cases were reported to the Greater Poland Cancer Registry. The number of new cases increased by 24% compared to 2001. Greater Poland has the second-highest ASR for both females and males among the 16 regions in Poland. The most common cancers are similar to those in other Western European countries. Among men, the most common cancers are lung (C34), colorectal (C18-C21), and prostate (C61) cancer. In women, breast cancer is the most common (C50), followed by colon (C18-C21) and lung (C34) cancer. Lung cancer in males accounts for more than one-third of all cancer-related deaths in Greater Poland. As in 2009, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in women.ConclusionsGiven the ageing of the population, the incidence of chronic diseases, including cancer, is expected to grow. These data indicate that cancer will continue to represent an important challenge both to local health authorities and the National Health Fund, which will need to meet the growing demand for cancer care

Użycie frakcjonowanych dawek jodu promieniotwórczego u pacjentów z rakiem zróżnicowanym tarczycy niskiego ryzyka nie ma wpływu na przeżycie

Introduction: Due to a limited number of hospital beds dedicated to radioiodine therapy (RIT) in some countries, a fractionated dose of radioiodine may be considered as the ablation therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of the study was to compare the late effects of ablation therapy with single and fractionated dose of radioiodine in patients with DTC. Patients and methods: Patients with low-risk DTC referred to our institution 5–16 weeks after thyroidectomy, treated with 2.2 GBq of 131I, either in a single dose (2.2 GBq, group 1) or in two fractions (1.1 GBq+1.1 GBq administered with a 24 h interval, group 2) were retrospectively included. Clinical outcome of the treatment and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. Results: 83 patients treated with single dose and 186 patients treated with fractionated dose of radioiodine were included. Mean duration of follow-up was 8.0 vs.7.8 years, respectively (p=ns). There were no significant differences between the groups in male to female ratio, age at the time of the first RIT, proportion of papillary thyroid cancers, volume of the thyroid tissue, thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroglobulin levels before first RIT. RIT was repeated in 55.4% and 54.8% of patients from group 1 and 2 respectively (p=ns). There were no significant differences including the course and outcomes of the treatment between the groups, measured by: cumulative dose of 131I, mean number of 131I administrations and mean thyreoglobulin concentration at the follow-up. Also the overall survival did not differ significantly between the groups. Probability of 5-year OS was 98.6% for patients treated with single and 99.5% with fractionated dose of 131-I, 10 year OS – 98.6 and 97.1% respectively, 15 year OS – 95.5 and 92.9% respectively (p=ns). Conclusions: In the long-term follow-up, radioiodine ablation therapy with fractionated doses in low-risk DTC patients is equally effective as with single dose. Wstęp: W związku z ograniczoną liczbą specjalistycznych łóżek szpitalnych przeznaczonych dla potrzeb terapii radiojodem (RIT, radioiodine therapy) w niektórych krajach, podanie podzielonej dawki radiojodu może być rozpatrywane jako terapia ablacyjna raka zróżnicowanego tarczycy (DTC, differentiated thyroid cancer). Celem pracy było porównanie odległych efektów terapii ablacyjnej przy użyciu pojedynczej lub podzielonej dawki radiojodu u pacjentów z DTC. Materiał i metody: Pacjenci z DTC niskiego ryzyka kierowani do kliniki autorów niniejszej pracy 5–16 tygodni po tyreidektomii, leczeni 131I przy użyciu dawki pojedynczej 2,2 GBq (60 mCi, grupa 1) lub podzielonej (1,1 GBq + 1,1 GBq podane w odstępie 24 godz., grupa 2) zostali włączeni do badania retrospektywnie. Przeanalizowano odpowiedź kliniczną na leczenie oraz całkowite przeżycia pacjentów. Wyniki: Do badania włączono 83 pacjentów leczonych pojedynczą dawką radiojodu oraz 186 pacjentów leczonych dawką podzieloną. Średni czas obserwacji wynosił odpowiednio 11,4 oraz 10,9 roku (p > 0,05). Między grupami nie odnotowano istotnych statystycznie różnic w zakresie proporcji kobiet i mężczyzn, wieku w momencie pierwszego podania 131I, odsetka raków brodawkowatych, objętości tkanki tarczycowej, stężenia tyreoglobuliny i TSH przed pierwszą RIT. Nie stwierdzono różnic dotyczących przebiegu choroby i wyników leczenia pomiędzy grupami, ocenionych na podstawie sumarycznej dawki 131I, liczby podań 131I, stężenia tyreoglobuliny przy zakończeniu obserwacji. Również całkowite przeżycia nie różniły się istotnie pomiędzy grupami. Prawdopodobieństwo przeżycia 5-letniego wyniosło 98,6% dla pacjentów leczonych pojedynczą dawką 131I i 99,5% dla leczonych dawką frakcjonowaną, 10-letniego — odpowiednio: 98,6 i 97,1%, zaś 15-letniego — odpowiednio: 95,5 i 92,9% (p > 0,05). Wnioski: W świetle wyników długofalowej obserwacji leczenie frakcjonowaną dawką radiojodu może być rozpatrywane jako równo­wartościowa alternatywa dla leczenia pojedynczą dawką

The impact of cancer incidence and stage on optimal utilization of radiotherapy: Methodology of a population based analysis by the ESTRO-HERO project

Background and purpose: The impact of differences in the distribution of major cancer sites and stages at diagnosis among 4 European countries on the optimal utilization proportion (OUP) of patients who should receive external beam radiotherapy was assessed within the framework of the ESTRO-HERO project. Materials and methods: Data from Australian Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CCORE) were used. Population based stages at diagnosis from the cancer registries of Belgium, Slovenia, the Greater Poland region of Poland, and The Netherlands were used to assess the OUP for each country. A sensitivity analysis was carried out. Results: The overall OUP by country varied from the lowest of 48.3% in Australia to the highest of 53.4% in Poland; among European countries the variation was limited to 3%. Cancer site specific OUPs showed differences according to the variability in stage at diagnosis across countries. The most important impact on the OUP by country was due to changes in relative frequency of tumours rather than stage at diagnosis. Conclusions: This methodology can be adapted using European data, thus facilitating the planning of resources required to cope with the demand for radiotherapy in Europe, taking into account the national variability in cancer incidence

The impact of cancer incidence and stage on optimal utilization of radiotherapy: Methodology of a population based analysis by the ESTRO-HERO project

Background and purpose: The impact of differences in the distribution of major cancer sites and stages at diagnosis among 4 European countries on the optimal utilization proportion (OUP) of patients who should receive external beam radiotherapy was assessed within the framework of the ESTRO-HERO project. Materials and methods: Data from Australian Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CCORE) were used. Population based stages at diagnosis from the cancer registries of Belgium, Slovenia, the Greater Poland region of Poland, and The Netherlands were used to assess the OUP for each country. A sensitivity analysis was carried out. Results: The overall OUP by country varied from the lowest of 48.3% in Australia to the highest of 53.4% in Poland; among European countries the variation was limited to 3%. Cancer site specific OUPs showed differences according to the variability in stage at diagnosis across countries. The most important impact on the OUP by country was due to changes in relative frequency of tumours rather than stage at diagnosis. Conclusions: This methodology can be adapted using European data, thus facilitating the planning of resources required to cope with the demand for radiotherapy in Europe, taking into account the national variability in cancer incidence