The incidence and mortality of bladder cancer in Poland is increasing. We cannot cope with this cancer – said Dr. Zbigniew Jabłonowski from the XNUMXst Urology Clinic of the Medical University of Lodz at a conference in Warsaw on Monday.
The specialist present at the Watch Health Care Foundation conference emphasized that in the years 1991-2006 the incidence of bladder cancer in our country increased by 59%. and continues to grow. Every year, 6 are detected. cases of this disease and soon this number will increase to 7 thousand.
“It is primarily a disease of men, mainly at the age of 65-75, because they suffer from bladder cancer four times more often than women” – said Dr. Jabłonowski. This type of cancer accounts for a third of all cancers of the genitourinary system.
The data he presented show that the death rate from bladder cancer also increases. In Poland, it is worse in this respect than in many other countries, e.g. in the USA and Norway, where the number of deaths due to this has been decreasing for several years.
According to the specialist, bladder cancer is the most expensive to treat, more than many other cancers, such as lung and colon cancer. Lung cancer treatment costs are twice as low.
Bladder-sparing therapy is the most commonly used therapy. It consists in transurethral removal of only the tumor, then the patient usually undergoes chemotherapy and radiotherapy. “Thanks to such treatment, 65-75 percent. patients keep the bladder “- assured Dr. Marcin Hetnał from the Radiation Therapy Center Amethyst RTCP in Krakow.
Dr. Jabłonowski assessed that cystoscopy – a diagnostic examination of the bladder, during which a tumor of this organ can also be removed, is too low-priced. “The effect of this may be that this method will be used less frequently, patients will be offered other methods that are less beneficial for them” – emphasized the specialist.
In 70 percent in patients, the bladder tumor is only superficial (it does not infiltrate adjacent tissues). Despite this, 90 percent. patients over a period of 15 years have relapsed. (PAP)
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