“The situation is alarming.” Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Poland 

The next edition of the campaign “Inhibit cancer! Give your lungs a chance! ” organized by the Polish Amazons, the Social Movement, the Association for Fighting Lung Cancer and the “Defeat the Cancer” Foundation. Its aim is to develop proposals for changes that will reduce the incidence of lung cancer and improve the five-year survival rate among patients.

Inhibit cancer! Give your lungs a chance!

– We find the situation in lung cancer alarming – every year, this cancer is diagnosed in about 23 thousand. almost as many people die of it. It is the most popular cancer in Poland, both among men and women. It is usually diagnosed in the late stages of advancement, which is associated with poor prognosis for patients, and the five-year survival rate is not optimistic: only 13,6 percent. men and 18,5 percent. women live five years after diagnosis. It is 77% in breast cancer and 65% in melanoma. – we want similar statistics in lung cancer – says Elżbieta Kozik, president of the Polskie Amazonki Ruch Społeczny organization.

After analyzing the current situation in lung cancer, the experts developed proposals for changes. In their opinion, it is necessary to reform both the prophylaxis model and the care of cancer patients. Particularly important, apart from primary and secondary prophylaxis, diagnostics and treatment, are rehabilitation and psycho-oncological treatment, as well as treatment of complications in oncological therapy and quick detection of disease recurrences.

Postulates

List of postulates for changes in the area of ​​lung cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment that should be introduced in order to reduce the incidence in the healthy population and double the 5-year survival rate in the patient population.

Primary prophylaxis

Objective: to reduce the number of cases.

1. Educating the public on oncological and other adverse health effects of smoking (cigarettes, e-cigarettes and tobacco heating products) – wide-ranging educational campaigns.

2. Particular emphasis is placed on the education of school children, youth and parents – actions aimed at stopping the trend of increasing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people (fighting the myth that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes).

3. Elimination of all possible forms of advertising of tobacco products, their display and marking of points of saleincluding display at cash registers, standardizing the appearance of cigarette packets.

4. Significant increase in cigarette prices, allocation of excise tax revenues to a much greater extent for financing combating the effects of smoking, including treatment of tobacco-related diseases.

5. Development of the network of Counseling for the Assistance of Smokers: a significant increase in their number, adequate funding, ensuring the possibility of pharmacological treatment of tobacco addiction, close cooperation with oncology and pneumonology centers (smoking oncological patients automatically under the care of the clinic).

6. Inclusion of lung cancer prevention in the duties of GPs and Occupational Medicine – compulsory smoking interview conducted by occupational medicine specialists, education of GPs in the recognition of lung cancer symptoms and compulsory referral for preventive examinations of people from risk groups (people over 50, smokers: 30 pack-years).

Secondary prophylaxis

Objective: to increase the number of patients diagnosed at earlier stages of lung cancer.

1. Implementation and popularization of early detection programs – screening tests with the use of low-dose computed tomography, conducted in risk groups:

  1. increasing the number of centers that will be able to perform screening tests;
  2. preparation of an appropriate number of specialists in the field of early diagnosis of lung cancer with the use of low-dose CT.

2.Introducing uniform standards for assessing the results of low-dose computed tomography performed as part of the lung cancer early detection program.

Diagnostics

Objective: to improve the quality and access to the latest diagnostic methods, which are a prerequisite for the optimal treatment of lung cancer patients, standardization of the diagnostic path.

1. Publication of management guidelines by the Minister of Health, including ensuring optimal pathomorphological, genetic and molecular diagnostics – this combination guarantees patients the possibility of access to optimal treatment with the help of modern therapies (e.g. targeted treatment, immunotherapy).

  1. molecular tests should be comprehensive and performed as standard, as well as planned at the moment of diagnosis of lung cancer in a patient;
  2. increasing the valuation of diagnostics as part of outpatient specialist care and introducing financing mechanisms for medical procedures depending on their quality.

Treatment

Objective: doubling the 5-year survival rate through better access of patients to the most modern methods and treatment procedures.

1. Appointment of Lung Cancer Units – a new organizational model of specialized centers of competence caring for patients with lung cancer. Such a model guarantees:

  1. comprehensive diagnostics and individual oncological treatment process;
  2. standardization of care for patients, regardless of their place of residence;
  3. high level of use of global recommendations in this area (including the work of doctors under multidisciplinary medical consultations, full access to optimal diagnostic and treatment procedures);
  4. the possibility of comparing the quality and effectiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic activities.

2. Better availability and use of medical procedures in line with global recommendations:

  1. simultaneous radiochemotherapy (jRCHT) in the treatment of inoperable locally advanced NSCLC – providing better access to the procedure by changing the rules of qualifying dojRCHT (the key role of multidisciplinary medical consultations) and the rules of its financing (in the NHF service package it should function as a separate product, more profitable than sequential chemotherapy)
  2. access to modern radiotherapy.

3. Availability of innovative therapies in line with recommendations – currently lacking in Poland:

  1. First-line immunotherapy in patients with PD-L1 expression> 50% and in those with PD-L1 expression between 1 and 49% (i.e. wider than registration);
  2. Osimertinib in the first line of treatment for patients with EGFR-dependent NSCLC;
  3. Durvalumab as consolidation treatment after concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with locally advanced, unresectable NSCLC.

4. Creation of a uniform medical register of cancer patients (including lung cancer)which would constitute the basis for reliable planning and monitoring of the treatment process.

5. Shortening the waiting time for the availability of innovative therapies for patients, including the reimbursement process of innovative therapies and improvement of the emergency access pathway to therapeutic technologies (RDTL).

– We believe that the introduction of the changes we propose, although it may require the mobilization and determination of all stakeholders at the beginning, will ultimately be at least neutral for the state budget, bringing real savings, among others. in terms of indirect costs – added Elżbieta Kozik.

As part of the “Inhibit cancer! Give your lungs a chance! ” The Polish Amazons Ruch Społeczny presented the “Guide for a patient with lung cancer”, which makes it easier for patients to navigate in the health care system, and above all, how to get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The guide is available at www.ruchspoleczny.org.pl, in the Campaigns tab.

Lung cancer – what do you need to know?

Lung cancer is the most common cancer among Poles and the third most common cancer among Polish women. While lung cancer is the most common among heavy and long-smoking smokers, all smokers are at risk. Other risk factors include:

  1. radon;
  2. passive smoking of cigarettes;
  3. asbestos and other compounds;
  4. air pollution;
  5. family history of lung cancer;
  6. previous development of lung cancer;
  7. age over 65.

Due to the types of cells, lung tumors can be divided into:

  1. small cell lung cancer, i.e. about 15% of lung cancers;
  2. non-small cell lung cancer, i.e. up to approx. 85% of lung cancers.

Unfortunately, lung cancer in the early stages of development rarely gives any characteristic signals. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as:

  1. worsening cough or change in its nature;
  2. breathing problems (shallow breathing);
  3. chest pain that does not go away
  4. repeated lung infections;
  5. constant feeling of fatigue;
  6. coughing up sputum with blood.

You will learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, among others on the organizers’ websites:

  1. Polish Amazons Social Movement: www.ruchspoleczny.org.pl
  2. Lung Cancer Association: www.rakpluca.org.pl
  3. “Defeat the Cancer” Foundation: www.pokonajraka.com

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