Cytology screening tests and the incidence of cervical cancer in the Lower Silesia province in 2005-2014

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the sixth most common malignant cancer in Poland, whereas in most EU countries it has not been included in the top ten in many years. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the impact of screening on the incidence of invasive and preinvasive cervical cancer in the Lower Silesia Province in 2005-2014. Material/Methods: 3,298 cervical cancer cases were analyzed (2,563 invasive cervical cancers and 735 preinvasive cancers) in women in the Lower Silesia Province, registered at the Lower Silesian Cancer Registry in 2005-2014. Results: Since the “Population-Based Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program” was introduced in 2006, there has been a steady decrease in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in the Lower Silesia Province in the group of women (aged 25-59) who receive screening tests. Unfortunately, there has also been a systematic increase in the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the over-59 age group. In women who had screening tests in 2006-2014, cancer in situ accounted for 20-43% of all cervical cancer cases, while in women aged over 60 it was only 3-11%. Discussion: Analysis of trends in the incidence of invasive and preinvasive cervical cancer suggests positive effects of screening for early signs of cervical cancer, even though only a small percentage of the population receives such tests. In the entire Lower Silesian population of women, a downward trend (6 fewer cases per year) in the incidence of invasive cancer, and an upward trend (4 more cases per year) in the incidence of preinvasive cervical cancer are observed.