Time is one of the most important parameters in oncology - the time to wait for the first visit to the oncologist, the time to wait for diagnostic tests, for the outcome of tests. Time determines a patient's chance of recovery from cancer.
The 'Living Longer with Cancer' campaign is a reliable source of knowledge for oncology patients and their relatives. The highly educational message has been ensured through the support of eminent authorities in the field of oncology, who have tackled the subject from the perspective of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient-doctor relations. The articles are available on the portal www.pacjentilekarz.pl
The campaign was held under the patronage of the Polish Oncology Society - President Adam Maciejczyk explained what and how important oncology network care is and how the pandemic has affected oncology patients: "...Unfortunately, the pandemic has taken its toll on access to basic diagnostics in Poland as well. Figures from the National Health Fund show that more than 17,000 fewer DiLO cards will be issued in 2020 than in 2019."
Aleksandra Dryzner, founder of the fb group "Child after cancer - onkomama", became the face of the campaign. After hearing the diagnosis "breast cancer", she consciously fought cancer and managed to fulfil something that some people think is impossible - she became a mum again.
THE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING THERAPEUTIC AREAS:
LUNG CANCER - ESSENCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS
Lung cancer is the biggest killer among cancers. It could be different if it were detected at an early stage. First, the cancer attacks the lung locally. In Poland, only around 20 per cent of patients are diagnosed at this early stage. The National Lung Cancer Early Detection Programme (NCDP) with Low-Dose Computed Tomography (NDTK) is an opportunity to change these unfavourable statistics.
Substantive support on this topic was provided by:
- P Mariusz Adamek, MD, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Robert Dziedzic, MD, Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Clinical Centre, Gdansk, Poland
- Patient comments
HOME CHEMOTHERAPY
Still few people imagine that chemotherapy can be given at home, most patients with gastrointestinal cancer associate chemotherapy with the need for frequent hospital stays. In contrast, effective cancer therapy does not have to be carried out exclusively in a hospital setting.
Substantive support on this topic was provided by:
- Lucjan Wyrwicz, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy of the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Cancer Institute-State Research Institute in Warsaw
- Slawomir Cichocki, Patient from Warsaw
BREAST CANCER - COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENT
Prolonged follow-up treatment increases the chance of achieving complete tumour regression and thus improves survival parameters. We must remember that breast cancer is a systemic disease, so systemic treatment is of great importance in the pre- and postoperative management. It is an integral part of breast cancer therapy.
Substantive support on this topic was provided by:
- Bogumiła Czartoryska-Arłukowicz, MD, PhD, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Oncology Centre Bialystok, Poland
- Elżbieta Kozik, Polish Amazons Social Movement
MELANOMA - PATIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE DRUGS
Until a few years ago, doctors could not offer patients many effective therapies. Today, patients with advanced melanoma have access to innovative drugs as part of drug programmes at selected centres, of which there are currently 27 in Poland.
Substantive support on this topic was provided by:
- Grażyna Kamińska-Winciorek, MD, PhD, Professor NIO - BIP, Head of the Skin Cancer and Melanoma Team, Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Cancer Institute - National Research Institute, Gliwice Branch
- Piotr Rutkowski, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Tumours of Soft Tissues, Bones and Carcinomas at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Cancer Institute - National Research Institute in Warsaw.
LUNG CANCER - CHEMOIMMUNOTHERAPY BETTER THAN CHEMOTHERAPY ALONE
Lung cancer diagnosis should be rapid, complete and comprehensive. Then, in fact, it allows individual selection and optimisation of cancer treatment. Thanks to innovative therapies, some patients now have the chance to prolong their lives not by a few months, but by tens of months. Lung cancer is becoming a chronic disease.
Substantive support on this topic was provided by:
- Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Warsaw
- Dariusz M. Kowalski, MD, PhD, Department of Lung and Chest Cancer, National Cancer Institute - National Research Institute, Warsaw, President of the Polish Lung Cancer Group
The editors recommend reading all the articles that are part of the 'Living Longer with Cancer' campaign, available on the portal www.pacjentilekarz.pl