The breast cancer and cervical cancer prevention program has been expanded to encourage women to undergo tests

From November 1, women aged 45 to 74 can undergo preventive, free mammography every two years for patients from non-risk groups, and not – as before – from 50 to 69.

There are women who are already taking advantage of this change. – I happened to be in the lower age limit – says Mrs. Anna. – It’s good that it was extended, because I wouldn’t be able to be there anymore – says Mrs. Maria. – I’m 74 years old, I’m 49, so I quickly found a place where I can do it until the end of the year – says Mrs. Mirosława.

Women can be tested, among others, at mobile testing points. You don’t need a referral, just an ID card. – A woman can go for this examination to any stationary laboratory or to a mammobus, in a place of her choice, regardless of where she lives or in what voivodeship – explains Małgorzata Koszur from the West Pomeranian Branch of the National Health Fund.

However, not all women want to be examined, which is confirmed by doctors themselves. – If women wanted to get tested, it would be the best change, because probably the biggest problem of all programs is the insufficient reporting of women – notes Bartosz Pietrzycki, M.D., a gynecologist from the Bocian Clinic in Białystok. – About 36 percent of women in the country use preventive mammography, while even fewer, about 20 percent of women, use preventive cytology – Koszur points out.

Private office tests are not included in the National Health Fund statistics. This does not change the fact that several thousand women die in Poland every year due to breast and cervical cancer. – In the first stage, when there are no metastases in the lymph nodes, practically 100 percent of women are cured of this disease – emphasizes Tomasz Sarosiek, MD, oncologist at Lux Med Onkologia. He adds that “if women undergo regular cytology from the age of 25, they basically have no chance of dying from cervical cancer.” – We would increase the chances of detecting changes at a stage when we can also treat and cure these changes very well, and this is the main goal – points out Pietrzycki.

See also: They die even though they could live. Only every tenth patient undergoes cytology

Reimbursable cytology can be performed every three years and still from the age of 25 to 64. Previously, the test could be performed up to the age of 59. The new rules – as in the case of mammography – are in force from the beginning of November.

November is the month of awareness of male cancers: prostate and testicles. – If we take care of our families, if we take care of our property, if we take care of our careers, we should also take care of ourselves – says Jakub Kajdaniuk, coordinator of the “Mosznowładcy” campaign.

Screening tests for testicular and prostate cancer could be performed in Bytom two weeks ago. – Out of the small number of tests we performed, because we sometimes do much more, two testicular cancers were diagnosed. Testicular cancer is a cancer of young men, something we often forget about. The peak incidence is 25-35 years – says Maksymilian Kowalik from the Department of Urology, Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Zabrze.

Read also: “I am acting here as an expert, but I must say that I am also a bit of a patient.”

Testicular cancer develops very quickly, unlike prostate cancer, experts explain. – The point is that a man over 40 years of age. he went to the urologist for the first time. It doesn’t matter whether he has ailments or not. Prostate cancer is a cancer that grows very slowly, secretly, unnoticed, and does not give any symptoms that should immediately cause us to worry – explains Marek Filipek, MD, PhD, a urologist from St. John’s Hospital. Elizabeth, Lux Med group.

The 10th edition of the “Mosznowładcy” campaign will last until December 2 and will visit several more cities.