The effect of the population-based cervical cancer screening program on 5-year survival in cervical cancer patients in Lower Silesia

Abstract

Background. Poland is considered among the European countries with an average incidence of cervical cancer (CC; about 3,000-3,500/year) and at the same time with high mortality (5-year survival rate - 55.2%). For this reason, in 2006 Poland introduced a Population-Based Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program addressed to women aged 25-59 years, in which a cytological test is carried out every 3 years. Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the changes in the curability of CC patients brought by the introduction of the Screening Program in the Lower Silesian voivodeship and to identify the subpopulation of women for whom activities aimed at increasing adherence rates must be intensified. Material and methods. The 5-year relative survival in 3,586 CC patients from 2000-2010 registered in the Lower Silesian Cancer Registry was analyzed. Results. In the Lower Silesian voivodeship, a 55.1% 5-year survival rate was recorded in 2000-2004 and 70.5% in 2010. The highest increase in 5-year relative survival rates was found in rural communities (from 53.1% in 2000-2004 to 77.7% in 2010) and in Wrocław (56.8% and 74.2%, respectively). In the study group, the number of patients with invasive CC (C53) detected in the local stage of the disease increased systematically from 61.5% in 2000-2004 to 74.3% in 2010. Conclusions. The introduction of the population-based screening program improved the curability rate in CC patients in the Lower Silesian voivodeship. In order to maintain the recent positive trends, further education should be continued, and activities aimed at increasing adherence to screening tests should be intensified, especially in urban-rural communities.