BREAST CANCER PREVENTION AS A PART OF HEALTH POLICY ACTIVITIES IN LUBLIN PROVINCE

Abstract

Introduction. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy tumour and it constitutes more than 20% of all cases of cancer among Polish women. Despite the prevalence of many risk factors for breast cancer and negative statistics on morbidity and mortality of women in Poland, in the recent years a number of actions, which have a positive influence on this situation, have been observed. One of them is the prevention programs, which often save health and lives of women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs for breast cancer in the Lublin Macroregion. Material and method. Analysis of the prevention programs reports for breast cancer in 2007, 2008 and 2010 provided by the Regional Centre of Occupational Medicine in Lublin was the research method. Screening tests carried out during the above years covered a total of 3479 women. Results. The mostly studied group of women was ladies between 40-49 years old, who gave birth before the age of 30 years at least once. On average, 53% of the studied women regularly performed breast self-examination. During mammography 64% of women were described as ‘in norm’, 0.8% of women were diagnosed with suspected cancer, while in the remaining participants of the study there were mild changes found. They have been referred for further diagnosis. Conclusion. There is still a request for continued prevention programs, especially among women aged 40-49 years. A request for education in the health prevention field (in theoretical and practical meaning) has also been observed. The percentage of morbidity and mortality from breast cancer in the Lublin Macroregion has decreased in the recent years.