Introduction
Cancer is an increasing health problem in Poland. The number of cases has been growing steadily during the last three decades, and cancer has become the second most common cause of death, constituting nearly one-fifth of deaths (21% of deaths in 2020 [1]). At the beginning of the 2nd decade of the the 21st century, over 1.3 million Poles were living with a cancer diagnosis and it was estimated that in 2020, for every 100,000 inhabitants – 381 people were diagnosed with cancer [2]. The aim of the article is to present a summary of the epidemiological indicators of malignant neoplasms in Poland in 2020.
Material and methods
Source of data and identification of cancer cases
Data on cancer cases are derived from the Polish National Cancer Registry. The data is collected on the basis of a unified protocol valid in the whole country, which allows us to maintain the same cancer registration rules in Poland. The source of data on deaths from cancer is the Central Statistical Office. All presented data are collected following the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Health Problems [3].
Statistical analysis
In this report, the basic statistical indicators were used: absolute numbers, percentages, crude and age-standardized the World Standard Population (ASW, Segi’s standard [4]), revised European Standard Population (ESP2013 [5]) rates, and 5-years survival rates. Projected data for 2020–2022 were estimated based on linear regression.
Results
Overall national analysis
In Poland, cancer is still a growing social problem and is both an economic and health challenge. The most common cancers in men in 2020 were (listed as the most common):
- prostate (20%),
- lung (16%),
- colon (7%),
- bladder cancers (7%).
In women, these were:
- breast (24%),
- lung (10%),
- corpus uteri (7%),
- colon (6%),
- ovarian (4%),
- thyroid cancers (4%) (tab. I).
Among the main causes of death, the most common cancer sites were lung cancer (26% in men and 18% in women), prostate cancer (11%) in men and breast cancer in women (15%) (tab. II). Detailed data on morbidity and mortality in women and men are presented in tables I and II, respectively.
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Stand. rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Stand. rate (ESP2013) |
|
males |
females |
||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
72,651 |
391.6 |
466.6 |
73,530 |
371.3 |
351.5 |
|
oral cavity and pharynx |
C00–C14 |
2,792 |
15.0 |
16.4 |
1 ,108 |
5.6 |
5.2 |
|
C00 |
168 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
78 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
C01–C02 |
560 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
237 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
|
C10–C13 |
668 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
154 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
|
digestive organs |
C15–C26 |
16,111 |
86.8 |
104.3 |
12,415 |
62.7 |
58.9 |
|
C15 |
976 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
343 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
|
C16 |
2,856 |
15.4 |
18.8 |
1,649 |
8.3 |
7.8 |
|
C17 |
181 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
166 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
|
C18 |
4,978 |
26.8 |
33.1 |
4,366 |
22.0 |
20.7 |
|
C19 |
823 |
4.4 |
5.4 |
592 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
|
C20 |
3,126 |
16.9 |
19.9 |
1,931 |
9.8 |
9.2 |
|
C21 |
83 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
192 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
|
C18–C21 |
9,010 |
48.6 |
58.9 |
7,081 |
35.8 |
33.6 |
|
C22 |
759 |
4.1 |
4.8 |
505 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
|
C23–C24 |
506 |
2.7 |
3.4 |
761 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
|
C25 |
1,747 |
9.4 |
11.0 |
1,808 |
9.1 |
8.6 |
|
respiratory system |
C30–C39 |
13,318 |
71.8 |
83.7 |
7,776 |
39.3 |
36.4 |
|
C32 |
1,499 |
8.1 |
8.9 |
260 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
|
C33–C34 |
11,534 |
62.2 |
73.1 |
7,309 |
36.9 |
34.2 |
|
bone and articular cartilage |
C40–C41 |
167 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
145 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
|
neoplasms of skin |
C43–C44 |
6,702 |
36.1 |
48.4 |
7,135 |
36.0 |
33.9 |
|
C43 |
1 565 |
8.4 |
9.9 |
1,680 |
8.5 |
8.1 |
|
C44 |
5,137 |
27.7 |
38.5 |
5,455 |
27.5 |
25.7 |
|
mesothelial and soft tissue |
C45–C49 |
792 |
4.3 |
4.9 |
679 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
|
breast |
C50 |
113 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
17,511 |
88.4 |
84.4 |
|
female genital organs |
C51–C58 |
– |
– |
– |
10,912 |
55.1 |
52.4 |
|
C51–C52 |
– |
– |
– |
547 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
|
C53 |
– |
– |
– |
1,920 |
9.7 |
9.2 |
|
C54 |
– |
– |
– |
5,238 |
26.5 |
25.1 |
|
C56 |
– |
– |
– |
3,012 |
15.2 |
14.6 |
|
male genital organs |
C60–C63 |
15,691 |
84.6 |
99.3 |
– |
– |
– |
|
C60 |
273 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
– |
– |
– |
|
C61 |
14,244 |
76.8 |
91.7 |
– |
– |
– |
|
C62 |
1,156 |
6.2 |
5.6 |
– |
– |
– |
|
urinary tract |
C64–C68 |
7,826 |
42.2 |
51.0 |
3,466 |
17.5 |
16.5 |
|
C64–C65 |
2,892 |
15.6 |
17.7 |
1,878 |
9.5 |
9.0 |
|
C67 |
4,815 |
26.0 |
32.5 |
1,516 |
7.7 |
7.1 |
|
eye |
C69 |
206 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
219 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|
central nervous system |
C70–C72 |
1,353 |
7.3 |
7.9 |
1,229 |
6.2 |
6.0 |
|
C71 |
1,293 |
7.0 |
7.5 |
1,156 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
|
endocrine glands |
C73–C75 |
648 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
2,788 |
14.1 |
13.7 |
|
C73 |
574 |
3.1 |
3.1 |
2,699 |
13.6 |
13.3 |
|
ill-defined, secondary and unspecified sites |
C76–C80 |
1 494 |
8.1 |
10.0 |
1,402 |
7.1 |
6.6 |
|
lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue |
C81–C96 |
4,235 |
22.8 |
26.3 |
3,896 |
19.7 |
18.9 |
|
C81 |
340 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
341 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
|
C82–C85 |
1,525 |
8.2 |
9.4 |
1,439 |
7.3 |
6.9 |
|
C88 |
28 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
32 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
C90 |
714 |
3.8 |
4.6 |
730 |
3.7 |
3.5 |
|
C91 |
949 |
5.1 |
6.1 |
712 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
|
C92 |
550 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
505 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
|
C91–C95 |
1,610 |
8.7 |
10.2 |
1,322 |
6.7 |
6.4 |
|
C96 |
18 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
32 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
|
primary multiple sites |
C97 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
cancers in situ |
D00–D09 |
1,203 |
6.5 |
8.1 |
2,849 |
14.4 |
13.7 |
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Stand. rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Stand. rate (ESP2013) |
|
males |
females |
||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
54,370 |
293.1 |
377.7 |
45,501 |
229.8 |
213.9 |
|
oral cavity and pharynx |
C00–C14 |
2,253 |
12.1 |
13.4 |
764 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
|
C00 |
79 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
37 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
C01–C02 |
430 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
141 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
|
C10–C13 |
609 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
137 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
|
digestive organs |
C15–C26 |
16,133 |
87.0 |
111.3 |
12,066 |
60.9 |
56.7 |
|
C15 |
1,227 |
6.6 |
7.6 |
355 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
|
C16 |
3,115 |
16.8 |
21.6 |
1,657 |
8.4 |
7.8 |
|
C17 |
126 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
105 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
C18 |
4,415 |
23.8 |
32.3 |
3,535 |
17.9 |
16.6 |
|
C19 |
424 |
2.3 |
3.0 |
326 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
|
C20 |
2,213 |
11.9 |
15.6 |
1,345 |
6.8 |
6.3 |
|
C21 |
129 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
115 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
|
C18–C21 |
7,181 |
38.7 |
51.8 |
5,321 |
26.9 |
24.9 |
|
C22 |
1,265 |
6.8 |
8.3 |
875 |
4.4 |
4.1 |
|
C23–C24 |
592 |
3.2 |
4.1 |
988 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
|
C25 |
2,431 |
13.1 |
15.7 |
2,542 |
12.8 |
12.0 |
|
respiratory system |
C30–C39 |
15,926 |
85.8 |
104.3 |
8,404 |
42.4 |
39.2 |
|
C32 |
1,409 |
7.6 |
8.9 |
195 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
|
C33–C34 |
14,229 |
76.7 |
93.5 |
8,009 |
40,4 |
37.3 |
|
bone and articular cartilage |
C40–C41 |
167 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
145 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
|
neoplasms of skin |
C43–C44 |
1,432 |
7.7 |
11.5 |
1,401 |
7.1 |
6.4 |
|
C43 |
762 |
4.1 |
5.4 |
668 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
|
C44 |
670 |
3.6 |
6.1 |
733 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
|
mesothelial and soft tissue |
C45–C49 |
570 |
3.1 |
3.7 |
460 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
|
breast |
C50 |
77 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
6,956 |
35.1 |
32.9 |
|
female genital organs |
C51–C58 |
– |
– |
– |
6,811 |
34.4 |
32.3 |
|
C51–C52 |
– |
– |
– |
409 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
|
C53 |
– |
– |
– |
1,511 |
7.6 |
7.2 |
|
C54 |
– |
– |
– |
1,811 |
9.1 |
8.5 |
|
C56 |
– |
– |
– |
2,688 |
13.6 |
12.8 |
|
male genital organs |
C60–C63 |
6,010 |
32.4 |
48.4 |
– |
– |
– |
|
C60 |
110 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
– |
– |
– |
|
C61 |
5,748 |
31.0 |
46.7 |
– |
– |
– |
|
C62 |
137 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
– |
– |
– |
|
urinary tract |
C64–C68 |
4,802 |
25.9 |
35.4 |
1,967 |
9.9 |
9.3 |
|
C64–C65 |
1,521 |
8.2 |
10.4 |
1,001 |
5.1 |
4.8 |
|
C67 |
3,202 |
17.3 |
24.4 |
915 |
4.6 |
4.3 |
|
eye |
C69 |
57 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
54 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
central nervous system |
C70–C72 |
1,621 |
8.7 |
10.0 |
1,432 |
7.2 |
6.8 |
|
C71 |
1,571 |
8.5 |
9.7 |
1,365 |
6.9 |
6.5 |
|
endocrine glands |
C73–C75 |
187 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
283 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
|
C73 |
125 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
222 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|
ill-defined, secondary and unspecified sites |
C76–C80 |
1,768 |
9.5 |
12.5 |
1,775 |
9.0 |
8,2 |
|
lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue |
C81–C96 |
3,304 |
17.8 |
23.5 |
2,945 |
14.9 |
13.9 |
|
C81 |
102 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
65 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
C82–C85 |
921 |
5.0 |
6.5 |
769 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
|
C88 |
27 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
13 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
C90 |
680 |
3.7 |
4.8 |
770 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
|
C91 |
706 |
3.8 |
5.3 |
578 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
|
C92 |
666 |
3.6 |
4.6 |
586 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
|
C91–C95 |
1,509 |
8.1 |
11.0 |
1,280 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
|
C96 |
65 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
48 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
primary multiple sites |
C97 |
60 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
37 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
cancers in situ |
D00–D09 |
3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
2019 observed |
2022 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
2019 observed |
2022 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
54,370 |
292.8 |
382.6 |
54,601 |
298.7 |
382.2 |
|
oesophagus |
C15 |
1,311 |
7.1 |
8.2 |
1,262 |
6.9 |
7.7 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
3,116 |
16.8 |
21.7 |
2,816 |
15.4 |
19.5 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
7,047 |
37.9 |
51.9 |
7,357 |
40.2 |
53.6 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
2,435 |
13.1 |
16.1 |
2,455 |
13.4 |
16.2 |
|
larynx |
C32 |
1,267 |
6.8 |
7.9 |
1,327 |
7.3 |
8.4 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
14,921 |
80.4 |
99.7 |
14,383 |
78.7 |
95.0 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
788 |
4.2 |
5.8 |
812 |
4.4 |
6.1 |
|
prostate |
C61 |
5,618 |
30.3 |
46.4 |
6,202 |
33.9 |
50.5 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
1,504 |
8.1 |
10.5 |
1,524 |
8.3 |
10.6 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
3,131 |
16.9 |
24.2 |
3,305 |
18.1 |
25.6 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,462 |
7.9 |
9.3 |
1,511 |
8.3 |
9.5 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
89 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
88 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85 + C96 |
1,022 |
5.5 |
7.2 |
1,134 |
6.2 |
8.0 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,553 |
8.4 |
11.5 |
1,555 |
8.5 |
11.4 |
|
females |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
45,954 |
231.9 |
219.3 |
47,467 |
242.8 |
221.0 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
1,716 |
8.7 |
8.2 |
1,653 |
8.5 |
7.7 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
5,343 |
27.0 |
25.5 |
5,478 |
28.0 |
25.6 |
|
gallbladder |
C23–C24 |
1,176 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
1,026 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
2,633 |
13.3 |
12.5 |
2,663 |
13.6 |
12.4 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
8,215 |
41.5 |
38.9 |
9,133 |
46.7 |
41.8 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
676 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
720 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
|
breast |
C50 |
6,951 |
35.1 |
33.3 |
7,549 |
38.6 |
35.5 |
|
cervix uteri |
C53 |
1,569 |
7.9 |
7.5 |
1,484 |
7.6 |
6.9 |
|
corpus uteri |
C54 |
1,859 |
9.4 |
8.9 |
2,214 |
11.3 |
10.3 |
|
ovary |
C56 |
2,777 |
14.0 |
13.4 |
2,845 |
14.6 |
13.5 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
947 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
909 |
4.7 |
4.2 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
1,017 |
5.1 |
4.8 |
1,082 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,288 |
6.5 |
6.3 |
1,312 |
6.7 |
6.2 |
|
thyroid gland |
C73 |
181 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
231 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
84 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
74 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85+C96 |
882 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
951 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,308 |
6.6 |
6.3 |
1,357 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
Predictions for 2020 and 2022
The precise number of cancer cases in 2022 is still unknown due to collecting data method (a 2 year delay to ensure completeness of data). The prediction of the incidence in 2020 and 2022 was made based on the trend from 2010–2019. The results of the morbidity and mortality are presented in tables III and IV, respectively.
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
2019 observed |
2022 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
2019 observed |
2022 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
85,559 |
460.75 |
563.73 |
89,699 |
490.7 |
575.4 |
|
oesophagus |
C15 |
1,139 |
6.13 |
6.95 |
1,214 |
6.6 |
7.2 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
3,230 |
17.39 |
21.59 |
3,063 |
16.8 |
20.1 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
10,397 |
55.99 |
69.92 |
11,155 |
61.0 |
73.2 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
1,920 |
10.34 |
12.16 |
1,868 |
10.2 |
11.7 |
|
larynx |
C32 |
1,688 |
9.09 |
10.19 |
1,638 |
9.0 |
9.8 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
13,819 |
74.42 |
89.24 |
12,659 |
69.2 |
79.8 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
1,749 |
9.42 |
11.28 |
2,073 |
11.3 |
13.1 |
|
prostate |
C61 |
17,638 |
94.98 |
117.93 |
21,093 |
115.4 |
133.5 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
3,214 |
17.31 |
19.71 |
3,372 |
18.4 |
20.3 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
5,482 |
29.52 |
38.04 |
5,696 |
31.2 |
38.3 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,382 |
7.44 |
8.24 |
1,291 |
7.1 |
7.6 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
365 |
1.97 |
1.98 |
346 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85 + C96 |
1,682 |
9.06 |
10.71 |
1,732 |
9.5 |
11.0 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,995 |
10.74 |
13.06 |
2,044 |
11.2 |
13.1 |
|
females |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
85,659 |
432.25 |
413.26 |
89,815 |
459.50 |
425.99 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
1,870 |
9.44 |
9.01 |
1,862 |
9.53 |
8.77 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
8,117 |
40.96 |
39.04 |
8,554 |
43.76 |
40.39 |
|
gallbladder |
C23–C24 |
892 |
4.50 |
4.24 |
746 |
3.82 |
3.45 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
1,932 |
9.75 |
9.20 |
1,990 |
10.18 |
9.28 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
8,480 |
42.79 |
40.15 |
9,198 |
47.06 |
41.97 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
1,940 |
9.79 |
9.41 |
2,282 |
11.67 |
10.95 |
|
breast |
C50 |
19,620 |
99.01 |
95.23 |
20,413 |
104.44 |
97.79 |
|
cervix uteri |
C53 |
2,407 |
12.15 |
11.58 |
2,085 |
10.67 |
9.87 |
|
corpus uteri |
C54 |
6,023 |
30.39 |
29.16 |
6,581 |
33.67 |
31.30 |
|
ovary |
C56 |
3,710 |
18.72 |
18.12 |
3,786 |
19.37 |
18.30 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
2,000 |
10.09 |
9.75 |
2,108 |
10.78 |
9.95 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
1,851 |
9.34 |
8.76 |
2,083 |
10.66 |
9.60 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,172 |
5.91 |
5.72 |
1,115 |
5.70 |
5.42 |
|
thyroid gland |
C73 |
3,490 |
17.61 |
17.19 |
4,206 |
21.52 |
20.83 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
334 |
1.69 |
1.70 |
333 |
1.71 |
1.73 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85+C96 |
1,702 |
8.59 |
8.21 |
1,722 |
8.81 |
8.18 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,567 |
7.91 |
7.67 |
1,637 |
8.37 |
7.86 |
It is estimated that in 2022 the number of cancer cases will increase and the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men will be:
- prostate (24%),
- lung (14%),
- colorectal cancer (C18–C21 – 12%),
and in women:
- breast (23%),
- lung (10%),
- colorectal cancer (C18–C21 – 10%).
There will be cancers, which will also be the main causes of death. Estimated incidence and death rates for the most common cancers in 2022 are presented in table V. However, a noticeable reduction in the incidence of stomach, lung and brain cancers in men and gallbladder, cervix uteri and brain cancers in women is expected. Unfortunately, in man, colorectal, prostate and bladder and in woman, lung, breast, and corpus uteri cancer-related mortality is expected to increase in 2020.
|
Cancer site |
Cancer cases |
Cancer deaths |
|||
|
males |
|||||
|
all cancers |
89,699 |
100% |
all cancers |
54,370 |
100% |
|
prostate |
21,093 |
24% |
lung |
14,921 |
27% |
|
lung |
12,659 |
14% |
colorectum |
7,047 |
13% |
|
colorectum |
11,155 |
12% |
prostate |
5,618 |
10% |
|
urinary bladder |
5,696 |
6% |
urinary bladder |
3,131 |
6% |
|
kidney |
3,372 |
4% |
stomach |
3,116 |
6% |
|
stomach |
3,063 |
3% |
leukaemias |
1,553 |
3% |
|
melanoma |
2,073 |
2% |
kidney |
1,504 |
3% |
|
leukaemias |
2,044 |
2% |
larynx |
1,267 |
2% |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
1,732 |
2% |
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
1,022 |
2% |
|
larynx |
1,638 |
2% |
melanoma |
788 |
1% |
|
females |
|||||
|
all cancers |
89,815 |
100% |
all cancers |
47,467 |
100% |
|
breast |
20,413 |
23% |
lung |
9,133 |
19% |
|
lung |
9,198 |
10% |
breast |
7,549 |
16% |
|
colorectum |
8,554 |
10% |
colorectum |
5,478 |
12% |
|
corpus uteri |
6,581 |
7% |
ovary |
2,845 |
6% |
|
ovary |
3,786 |
4% |
corpus uteri |
2,214 |
5% |
|
melanoma |
2,282 |
3% |
stomach |
1,653 |
3% |
|
kidney |
2,108 |
2% |
cervix uteri |
1,484 |
3% |
|
cervix uteri |
2,085 |
2% |
leukaemias |
1,357 |
3% |
|
urinary bladder |
2,083 |
2% |
urinary bladder |
1,082 |
2% |
|
stomach |
1,862 |
2% |
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
951 |
2% |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
1,722 |
2% |
kidney |
909 |
2% |
|
leukaemias |
1,637 |
2% |
melanoma |
720 |
2% |
The observed number of cancer cases in 2020 compared to the predicted values is lower in all cancer groups (tab. VI). Comparing the observed mortality rates in 2020 to the expected ones, it can be seen that they are lower in almost all presented cancer groups (except for laryngeal cancer in men and brain cancer in both sexes) – table VII. Therefore, there is a noticeable change in the trend of both morbidity and mortality in 2020.
|
Cancer site |
ICD–10 |
2020 observed |
2020 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
Cancer site |
ICD–10 |
2020 observed |
2020 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
72,651 |
391.6 |
466.6 |
88,772 |
478.5 |
573.5 |
|
oesophagus |
C15 |
976 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
1,203 |
6.5 |
7.2 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
2,856 |
15.4 |
18.8 |
3,252 |
17.5 |
21.5 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
9,010 |
48.6 |
58.9 |
11,049 |
59.6 |
73.1 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
1,747 |
9.4 |
11.0 |
1,887 |
10.2 |
11.9 |
|
larynx |
C32 |
1,499 |
8.1 |
8.9 |
1,762 |
9,5 |
10.5 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
11,534 |
62.2 |
73.1 |
13,508 |
72.8 |
85.6 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
1,565 |
8.4 |
9.9 |
1,963 |
10.6 |
12.4 |
|
prostate |
C61 |
14,244 |
76.8 |
91.7 |
19,333 |
104.2 |
125.0 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
2,727 |
14.7 |
16.6 |
3,340 |
18.0 |
20.2 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
4,815 |
26.0 |
32.5 |
5,720 |
30.8 |
38.8 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,293 |
7.0 |
7.5 |
1,340 |
7.2 |
7.9 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
354 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
354 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85 + C96 |
1,543 |
8.3 |
9.5 |
1,726 |
9.3 |
10.9 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,610 |
8.7 |
10.2 |
2,023 |
10.9 |
13.0 |
|
females |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
73,530 |
371.3 |
351.5 |
88,162 |
445.21 |
419.8 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
1,649 |
8.3 |
7.8 |
1,911 |
9.65 |
9.1 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
7,081 |
35.8 |
33.6 |
8,508 |
42.96 |
40.4 |
|
gallbladder |
C23–C24 |
761 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
894 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
1,808 |
9.1 |
8.6 |
1,965 |
9.9 |
9.2 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
7,309 |
36.9 |
34.2 |
8,759 |
44.23 |
40.5 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
1,680 |
8.5 |
8.1 |
2,157 |
10.89 |
10.4 |
|
breast |
C50 |
17,511 |
88.4 |
84.4 |
19,907 |
100.53 |
95.7 |
|
cervix |
C53 |
1,920 |
9.7 |
9.2 |
2,288 |
11.55 |
10.9 |
|
uterus |
C54 |
5,238 |
26.5 |
25.1 |
6,451 |
32.58 |
30.8 |
|
ovary |
C56 |
3,012 |
15.2 |
14.6 |
3,798 |
19.18 |
18.4 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
1,755 |
8.9 |
8.4 |
2,093 |
10.57 |
10.0 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
1,516 |
7.7 |
7.1 |
1,983 |
10.01 |
9.2 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,156 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
1,179 |
6.0 |
5.7 |
|
thyroid |
C73 |
2,699 |
13.6 |
13.3 |
3,848 |
19.4 |
18.9 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
341 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
343 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85 + C96 |
1,471 |
7.4 |
7.1 |
1,694 |
8.56 |
8.1 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,322 |
6.7 |
6.4 |
1,619 |
8.17 |
7.8 |
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
2020 observed |
2020 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
Cancer site |
ICD-10 |
2020 observed |
2020 expected |
||||
|
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
Absolute number |
Crude rate |
Standardized rate (ESP2013) |
||
|
males |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
54,370 |
293.1 |
377.7 |
55,999 |
301.9 |
390.1 |
|
oesophagus |
C15 |
1,227 |
6.6 |
7.6 |
1,275 |
6.9 |
7.8 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
3,115 |
16.8 |
21.6 |
3,062 |
16.5 |
21.2 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
7,181 |
38.7 |
51.8 |
7,342 |
39.6 |
53.4 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
2,431 |
13.1 |
15.7 |
2,500 |
13.5 |
16.5 |
|
larynx |
C32 |
1,409 |
7.6 |
8.9 |
1,370 |
7.4 |
8.6 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
14,229 |
76.7 |
93.5 |
15,242 |
82.2 |
100.6 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
762 |
4.1 |
5.4 |
809 |
4.4 |
5.9 |
|
prostate |
C61 |
5,748 |
31.0 |
46.7 |
6,010 |
32.4 |
48.8 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
1,434 |
7.7 |
9.8 |
1,589 |
8.6 |
11.0 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
3,202 |
17.3 |
24.4 |
3,284 |
17.7 |
25.2 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,571 |
8.5 |
9.7 |
1,535 |
8.3 |
9.7 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
102 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
94 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85 + C96 |
986 |
5.3 |
6.9 |
1,105 |
6.0 |
7.7 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,509 |
8.1 |
11.0 |
1,595 |
8.6 |
11.6 |
|
females |
|||||||
|
all cancers |
C00–D09 |
45,501 |
229.8 |
213.9 |
47,325 |
239.0 |
221.4 |
|
stomach |
C16 |
1,657 |
8.4 |
7.8 |
1,743 |
8.8 |
8.2 |
|
colorectum |
C81–C21 |
5,321 |
26.9 |
24.9 |
5,529 |
27.9 |
25.9 |
|
gallbladder |
C23–C24 |
988 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
1,117 |
5.6 |
5.2 |
|
pancreas |
C25 |
2,542 |
12.8 |
12.0 |
2,652 |
13.4 |
12.4 |
|
lung |
C33–C34 |
8,009 |
40.4 |
37.3 |
8,719 |
44.0 |
40.3 |
|
melanoma |
C43 |
668 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
719 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
|
breast |
C50 |
6,956 |
35.1 |
32.9 |
7,305 |
36.9 |
34.4 |
|
cervix |
C53 |
1,511 |
7.6 |
7.2 |
1,549 |
7.8 |
7.3 |
|
uterus |
C54 |
1,811 |
9.1 |
8.5 |
2,039 |
10.3 |
9.5 |
|
ovary |
C56 |
2,688 |
13.6 |
12.8 |
2,832 |
14.3 |
13.5 |
|
kidney |
C64 |
946 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
948 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
|
urinary bladder |
C67 |
915 |
4.6 |
4.3 |
1,025 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
|
brain |
C71 |
1,365 |
6.9 |
6.5 |
1,351 |
6.8 |
6.5 |
|
thyroid |
C73 |
222 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
226 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma |
C81 |
65 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
75 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
C82–C85 + C96 |
817 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
938 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
|
leukaemias |
C91–C95 |
1,280 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
1,364 |
6.9 |
6.4 |
Incidence time-trends
The number of cases in men for the first three analyzed decades was higher than the number of cases in women. In 2007, this changed and the number of cases in both sexes is similar. The number of deaths in men had an upward trend until 2012, after which it stabilized. For women, the number of deaths has been steadily increasing since 1965.
The standardized rate of incidence in women and men shows an upward trend throughout the observed period. Since 1992, the trend has been flattening for men. The standardized rate of death in men had been increasing until 2002, after which it has begun to decrease. Among women throughout the observed period, the standardized death rate remains at a similar level without any particular deviations (fig. 1).
Until 2013, lung cancer was the leading cancer among men. After changing from an ascending to a declining trend in the 1990s, the continued decline led to the prostate becoming the first cancer in 2016. In third place for most of the observed time is colorectal cancer (fig. 2).
Throughout the observed period, breast cancer has been the main cancer among women. In the last 2–3 years, colorectal cancer and lung cancer rank second ex aequo; previously, colorectal cancer had a higher morbidity than lung cancer (fig. 3).
Lung cancer is the most common single cause of death in men. Lung cancer mortality had been increasing in the second part of the 20th century, but since the start of the 21st, the death rate has been declining. Colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of death, was characterized by an increasing mortality trend until the mid-first decade of the 21st century, after which there was a clear slowdown in the growth rate. The third common cancer cause of death since the beginning of the 21st century is prostate cancer, with stabilized level of mortality (fig. 4).
Breast cancer was the most frequent cancer-related cause of death in the female population from the middle of the 1970s through the middle of the 2000s. Since 2007, cancer deaths have been most often caused by lung cancer. It is noteworthy that the decreased trend in breast cancer mortality was reversed in 2010. Lung cancer has replaced breast cancer as the top cause of cancer-related fatalities in women for more than ten years. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the mortality rate for colorectal cancer in women has been decreasing. In the past 50 years, the mortality rate from stomach cancer has fallen by a factor of four. Additionally, over this time period, there is a declension in cervical cancer mortality (fig. 5). Stomach cancer is characterized by downward trend in both mortality and incidence throughout the observed period (about 40 years) (fig. 2–5).
Age group analysis
The incidence and mortality of malignant tumors varies with the age of the patient. In children, both among girls and boys, leukaemia is the main diagnosis. In second place are cancers of the brain and central nervous system.
In men, the incidence varies with age. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in young men. In the age group 45–64, the main diagnosis was lung cancer, and in older men over 65, prostate cancer. In men over 45, lung cancer remains the most common cause of death. In women over 20 years of age, the most frequently diagnosed cancer was breast cancer. Between the ages of 20 and 44, it was also the leading cause of cancer death. The highest morbidity and mortality for this cancer site were noted in patients over 65 years of age.
In adult women and men, cancers of the lungs and the second intestine were among the most frequently diagnosed causes of cancer-related deaths, regardless of age. The exact incidence and mortality values for the most common cancers by sex and age are presented in tables VIII and IX, respectively.
|
Males |
|||||||
|
age: 0–19 |
age: 20–44 |
age: 45–64 |
age: 65+ |
||||
|
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
|
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
||||
|
550 |
3,578 |
21,625 |
46,898 |
||||
|
leukaemias (C91–C95) |
testis (C62) |
lung (C33–C34) |
prostate (C61) |
||||
|
173 |
31% |
914 |
26% |
3,599 |
17% |
10,684 |
23% |
|
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
prostate (C61) |
lung (C33–C34) |
||||
|
85 |
15% |
254 |
7% |
3,540 |
16% |
7,840 |
17% |
|
non-Hodgkin lymphomas (C82–C85 + C96) |
melanoma (C43) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
||||
|
44 |
8% |
238 |
7% |
2,774 |
13% |
5,975 |
13% |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma (C81) |
non-Hodgkin lymphomas |
urinary bladder (C67) |
urinary bladder (C67) |
||||
|
40 |
7% |
231 |
6% |
1,157 |
5% |
3 ,008 |
8% |
|
connective and soft tissue (C49) |
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
kidney (C64) |
stomach (C16) |
||||
|
32 |
6% |
233 |
6% |
1,065 |
5% |
1,911 |
4% |
|
Females |
|||||||
|
age: 0–19 |
age: 20–44 |
age: 45–64 |
age: 65+ |
||||
|
aumber |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
|
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
||||
|
532 |
7,421 |
25,083 |
40,494 |
||||
|
leukaemias (C91–C95) |
breast (C50) |
breast (C50) |
breast (C50) |
||||
|
151 |
28% |
2,170 |
29% |
7,790 |
31% |
7,551 |
19% |
|
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
thyroid gland (C73) |
lung (C33–C34) |
lung (C33–C34) |
||||
|
59 |
11% |
1,160 |
16% |
2,160 |
9% |
5,071 |
13% |
|
Hodgkin lymphoma (C81) |
cervix uteri in situ (D06) |
corpus uteri (C54) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
||||
|
53 |
10% |
758 |
10% |
2,154 |
9% |
4,848 |
12% |
|
thyroid gland (C73) |
melanoma (C43) |
colorectum (C18-C21) |
corpus uteri (C54) |
||||
|
46 |
9% |
416 |
6% |
1 ,987 |
8% |
2,920 |
7% |
|
kidney (C64) |
cervix uteri (C53) |
ovary (C56) |
ovary (C56) |
||||
|
29 |
5% |
378 |
5% |
1,344 |
5% |
1,313 |
3% |
|
Males |
|||||||
|
age: 0–19 |
age: 20–44 |
age: 45–64 |
age: 65+ |
||||
|
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
|
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
||||
|
113 |
1,038 |
13,917 |
39,302 |
||||
|
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
lung (C33–C34) |
lung (C33–C34) |
||||
|
47 |
42% |
146 |
14% |
4,001 |
29% |
10,151 |
26% |
|
leukaemias (C91–C95) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
||||
|
23 |
20% |
100 |
10% |
1,550 |
11% |
5,531 |
14% |
|
connective and soft tissue (C49) |
lung (C33–C34) |
stomach (C16) |
prostate (C61) |
||||
|
9 |
8% |
77 |
7% |
839 |
6% |
5,249 |
13% |
|
bone and articular cartilage (C40–C41) |
testis (C62) |
pancreas (C25) |
urinary bladder (C67) |
||||
|
6 |
5% |
73 |
7% |
798 |
6% |
2,679 |
7% |
|
peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system (C47) |
stomach (C16) |
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
stomach (C16) |
||||
|
6 |
5% |
70 |
7% |
599 |
4% |
2,206 |
6% |
|
Females |
|||||||
|
age: 0–19 |
age: 20–44 |
age: 45–64 |
age: 65+ |
||||
|
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
number |
% |
|
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
all cancers |
||||
|
78 |
1,133 |
10,500 |
33,790 |
||||
|
brain and CNS (C71–C72) |
breast (C50) |
lung (C33–C34) |
lung (C33–C34) |
||||
|
24 |
31% |
328 |
29% |
2,097 |
20% |
5,869 |
17% |
|
leukaemias (C91–C95) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
breast (C50) |
breast (C50) |
||||
|
21 |
27% |
105 |
9% |
1,881 |
18% |
4,747 |
14% |
|
connective and soft tissue (C49) |
cervix uteri (C53) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
colorectum (C18–C21) |
||||
|
12 |
15% |
99 |
9% |
972 |
9% |
4,244 |
13% |
|
bone and articular cartilage (C40–C41) |
ovary (C56) |
ovary (C56) |
pancreas (C25) |
||||
|
6 |
8% |
88 |
8% |
916 |
9% |
1,952 |
6% |
|
kidney (C64) |
brain and CNS |
cervix uteri (C53) |
ovary (C56) |
||||
|
4 |
5% |
86 |
8% |
568 |
5% |
1,683 |
5% |
Spatial analysis and clustering
In 2020, among men and women, the highest cancer morbidity rates were observed in the western part of Poland, and the lowest cancer morbidity occurred in the southeastern area. In 2020, in most voivodships, the most frequent cancer in men was prostate cancer. In 15 voivodships the most lethal cancers among men are lung cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer (tab. X).
|
Voivodship |
All cancers |
Stomach |
Colorectum1 |
Pancreas |
Lung |
Melanoma |
Prostate |
Kidney |
Bladder |
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas2 |
Leukaemias3 |
|
incidence rates (ESP2013) |
|||||||||||
|
Dolnośląskie |
516.4 |
20.3 |
66.9 |
14.2 |
80.2 |
11.3 |
94.4 |
19.6 |
43.0 |
9.9 |
12.6 |
|
Kujawsko-pomorskie |
540.2 |
22.0 |
68.6 |
11.8 |
101.0 |
10.5 |
101.0 |
23.6 |
40.9 |
9.0 |
6.4 |
|
Lubelskie |
448.0 |
16.7 |
58.0 |
10.5 |
62.8 |
9.0 |
89.2 |
17.3 |
35.6 |
8.6 |
10.9 |
|
Lubuskie |
421.5 |
16.6 |
55.3 |
10.1 |
60.7 |
5.6 |
94.3 |
18.2 |
42.7 |
6.7 |
8.5 |
|
Łódzkie |
430.0 |
20.2 |
57.2 |
10.1 |
69.4 |
12.1 |
78.3 |
13.3 |
22.5 |
9.9 |
17.6 |
|
Małopolskie |
406.0 |
15.8 |
45.6 |
8.7 |
67.5 |
8.5 |
81.0 |
10.9 |
22.3 |
8.5 |
9.1 |
|
Mazowieckie |
401.3 |
16.4 |
51.1 |
10.8 |
63.7 |
11.2 |
71.9 |
15.0 |
24.3 |
11.1 |
7.4 |
|
Opolskie |
458.8 |
15.4 |
55.3 |
10.6 |
65.2 |
7.7 |
89.0 |
16.3 |
37.2 |
7.1 |
7.5 |
|
Podkarpackie |
467.8 |
22.4 |
60.9 |
11.2 |
60.9 |
10.7 |
84.5 |
17.1 |
26.3 |
11.0 |
13.0 |
|
Podlaskie |
420.7 |
17.8 |
65.0 |
9.7 |
58.1 |
9.8 |
92.7 |
18.5 |
32.1 |
7.9 |
6.7 |
|
Pomorskie |
465.5 |
15.7 |
48.5 |
9.1 |
77.4 |
7.8 |
103.6 |
19.7 |
39.8 |
10.2 |
6.5 |
|
Śląskie |
522.0 |
22.9 |
65.2 |
11.4 |
82.1 |
8.6 |
117.1 |
16.4 |
33.9 |
9.5 |
10.7 |
|
Świętokrzyskie |
479.3 |
15.6 |
52.4 |
12.3 |
72.2 |
11.7 |
93.3 |
13.6 |
42.0 |
11.9 |
15.2 |
|
Warmińsko-mazurskie |
480.1 |
22.5 |
65.6 |
9.4 |
88.6 |
10.1 |
79.8 |
14.8 |
36.1 |
9.1 |
15.3 |
|
Wielkopolskie |
545.7 |
18.9 |
75.0 |
13.8 |
79.4 |
10.0 |
105.4 |
20.4 |
32.0 |
10.4 |
10.1 |
|
Zachodniopomorskie |
430.2 |
17.6 |
50.6 |
7.7 |
67.1 |
11.4 |
83.2 |
13.8 |
38.4 |
5.2 |
7.5 |
|
Poland |
466.6 |
18.8 |
58.9 |
11.0 |
73.1 |
9.9 |
91.7 |
16.6 |
32.5 |
9.5 |
10.2 |
|
|
mortality rates (ESP2013) |
||||||||||
|
Dolnośląskie |
419.6 |
24.7 |
58.8 |
17.0 |
105.9 |
4.8 |
53.5 |
14.8 |
28.3 |
6.8 |
11.0 |
|
Kujawsko-pomorskie |
416.6 |
24.4 |
62.7 |
16.0 |
106.0 |
6.0 |
49.8 |
8.8 |
29.3 |
7.7 |
11.7 |
|
Lubelskie |
350.4 |
21.2 |
45.1 |
14.1 |
95.4 |
4.2 |
40.8 |
9.8 |
19.0 |
7.1 |
11.6 |
|
Lubuskie |
396.2 |
23.8 |
53.9 |
16.9 |
101.9 |
6.8 |
53.0 |
10.3 |
29.2 |
5.7 |
6.5 |
|
Łódzkie |
365.4 |
20.7 |
47.5 |
13.1 |
91.5 |
7.9 |
42.7 |
8.7 |
24.8 |
5.0 |
13.0 |
|
Małopolskie |
367.0 |
21.6 |
47.5 |
14.4 |
85.6 |
6.1 |
43.2 |
9.9 |
25.1 |
6.5 |
11.8 |
|
Mazowieckie |
363.3 |
18.5 |
48.5 |
15.1 |
92.0 |
5.8 |
47.4 |
8.7 |
22.2 |
7.3 |
9.3 |
|
Opolskie |
351.5 |
17.4 |
56.1 |
15.3 |
75.9 |
3.7 |
38.0 |
10.7 |
25.6 |
5.5 |
10.6 |
|
Podkarpackie |
323.8 |
21.1 |
44.0 |
16.3 |
65.0 |
5.0 |
48.4 |
7.5 |
20.7 |
8.2 |
11.5 |
|
Podlaskie |
351.5 |
15.8 |
52.8 |
14.4 |
93.5 |
6.1 |
44.7 |
10.7 |
22.0 |
5.3 |
11.9 |
|
Pomorskie |
383.8 |
21.5 |
49.1 |
18.4 |
100.0 |
4.9 |
48.4 |
10.8 |
24.7 |
7.8 |
9.0 |
|
Śląskie |
373.4 |
23.2 |
52.9 |
15.5 |
84.3 |
4.8 |
46.4 |
9.5 |
22.6 |
6.1 |
10.8 |
|
Świętokrzyskie |
350.8 |
20.5 |
44.1 |
14.6 |
92.1 |
5.2 |
42.3 |
7.4 |
21.1 |
6.7 |
10.6 |
|
Warmińsko-mazurskie |
391.7 |
25.4 |
53.2 |
13.1 |
97.1 |
3.1 |
49.2 |
10.6 |
26.0 |
12.1 |
12.0 |
|
Wielkopolskie |
429.9 |
24.9 |
63.4 |
18.2 |
112.5 |
5.2 |
49.9 |
10.2 |
28.4 |
7.8 |
11.6 |
|
Zachodniopomorskie |
389.9 |
20.3 |
51.3 |
18.0 |
100.0 |
5.1 |
44.8 |
9.4 |
26.0 |
5.6 |
12.4 |
|
Poland |
377.7 |
21.6 |
51.8 |
15.7 |
93.5 |
5.4 |
46.7 |
9.8 |
24.4 |
6.9 |
11.0 |
Among women in all voivodships, the leading cancer site is the breast. Two patterns can be identified among the incidences. The first pattern present in mainly central and northern Poland is characterized by the second and third sites of lung cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively. Colorectal cancer takes second place and lung cancer is third in the second pattern found in the rest of Poland.
Among cancer deaths in women, two patterns also noted. In the first pattern, the most lethal is breast cancer, followed by lung cancer and it concerns the southern part of Poland and one voivodship from the eastern-northern part. In the second pattern, in the rest of the country, the situation is reversed – among cancer mortality, lung cancer leads, followed by breast cancer. In both cases, colorectal cancer ranks third among cancer deaths in women (tab. XI).
|
Voivodship |
All cancers |
Colorectum1 |
Lung |
Breast |
Cervix uteri |
Corpus uteri |
Ovary |
Kidney |
Bladder |
non-Hodgkin lymphomas2 |
Leukaemias3 |
|
incidence rates (ESP2013) |
|||||||||||
|
Dolnośląskie |
388.4 |
38.8 |
42.0 |
90.4 |
10.6 |
26.1 |
15.3 |
8.0 |
8.6 |
7.4 |
8.8 |
|
Kujawsko-pomorskie |
421.1 |
38.4 |
45.5 |
89.8 |
8.6 |
28.0 |
17.1 |
11.8 |
8.0 |
8.5 |
4.3 |
|
Lubelskie |
322.3 |
32.6 |
24.8 |
74.2 |
9.2 |
25.9 |
14.3 |
7.2 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
5.7 |
|
Lubuskie |
319.9 |
32.2 |
36.9 |
77.0 |
10.3 |
22.0 |
17.2 |
10.1 |
9.2 |
3.8 |
4.8 |
|
Łódzkie |
343.0 |
31.2 |
33.2 |
91.3 |
9.6 |
24.5 |
16.5 |
6.1 |
5.0 |
7.3 |
12.1 |
|
Małopolskie |
293.7 |
24.2 |
25.4 |
60.8 |
9.0 |
26.1 |
12.9 |
6.1 |
4.0 |
6.8 |
5.7 |
|
Mazowieckie |
322.4 |
26.2 |
32.5 |
92.2 |
6.9 |
20.9 |
10.5 |
7.5 |
5.5 |
7.8 |
4.0 |
|
Opolskie |
308.8 |
32.4 |
27.3 |
67.5 |
10.7 |
24.6 |
13.6 |
8.2 |
7.9 |
4.,4 |
5.6 |
|
Podkarpackie |
335.4 |
31.1 |
21.0 |
70.3 |
6.0 |
28.9 |
15.7 |
8.5 |
4.6 |
7.4 |
8.1 |
|
Podlaskie |
343.0 |
35.7 |
22.4 |
84.4 |
11.0 |
27.2 |
15.8 |
8.6 |
9.0 |
5.5 |
5.4 |
|
Pomorskie |
328.5 |
28.9 |
40.3 |
80.9 |
8.3 |
15.9 |
13.2 |
9.2 |
10.1 |
5.8 |
3.0 |
|
Śląskie |
382.4 |
43.0 |
38.2 |
88.4 |
11.8 |
32.8 |
18.5 |
9.3 |
8.6 |
7.2 |
7.0 |
|
Świętokrzyskie |
336.5 |
33.4 |
26.9 |
75.0 |
9.3 |
24.8 |
14.2 |
7.8 |
8.2 |
6.1 |
8.3 |
|
Warmińsko-mazurskie |
360.0 |
35.3 |
42.4 |
79.9 |
10.0 |
19.7 |
14.2 |
10.0 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
9.1 |
|
Wielkopolskie |
408.2 |
41.3 |
37.0 |
101.3 |
9.7 |
26.4 |
14.2 |
10.1 |
7.3 |
9.1 |
7.0 |
|
Zachodniopomorskie |
364.0 |
32.1 |
42.6 |
92.2 |
8.8 |
19.1 |
13.2 |
9.5 |
10.3 |
5.1 |
4.5 |
|
Poland |
351.5 |
33.6 |
34.2 |
84.4 |
9.2 |
25.1 |
14.6 |
8.4 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
6.4 |
|
|
mortality rates (ESP2013) |
||||||||||
|
Dolnośląskie |
233.1 |
27.5 |
46.9 |
32.1 |
7.3 |
7.7 |
12.3 |
4.1 |
5.4 |
3.1 |
6.4 |
|
Kujawsko-pomorskie |
234.5 |
27.9 |
47.2 |
36.1 |
7.2 |
10.1 |
14.0 |
4.9 |
6.7 |
4.7 |
5.7 |
|
Lubelskie |
179.0 |
21.3 |
29.7 |
24.3 |
5.6 |
6.4 |
11.1 |
4.5 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
6.3 |
|
Lubuskie |
234.2 |
26.5 |
49.9 |
34.0 |
8.4 |
7.7 |
12.0 |
6.6 |
3.7 |
3.5 |
6.5 |
|
Łódzkie |
219.1 |
24.8 |
37.2 |
36.1 |
7.2 |
8.8 |
14.9 |
3.8 |
4.1 |
3.2 |
6.9 |
|
Małopolskie |
205.3 |
25.6 |
29.0 |
31.4 |
6.1 |
8.2 |
11.7 |
3.7 |
4.9 |
4.1 |
5.1 |
|
Mazowieckie |
215.1 |
24.4 |
37.6 |
34.5 |
6.7 |
10.6 |
12.4 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
5.9 |
|
Opolskie |
187.3 |
25.2 |
28.2 |
25.3 |
8.6 |
6.1 |
12.6 |
4.7 |
3.0 |
2.7 |
5.0 |
|
Podkarpackie |
172.2 |
20.7 |
21.3 |
26.0 |
5.9 |
8.5 |
12.4 |
3.8 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
6.1 |
|
Podlaskie |
197.1 |
23.2 |
30.2 |
30.5 |
6.3 |
8.0 |
14.3 |
6.6 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
5.8 |
|
Pomorskie |
211.6 |
23.3 |
45.0 |
28.5 |
6.6 |
7.3 |
11.1 |
3.5 |
4.6 |
3.4 |
6.4 |
|
Śląskie |
223.9 |
25.7 |
35.3 |
35.9 |
8.2 |
8.7 |
14.3 |
4.8 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
5.9 |
|
Świętokrzyskie |
186.9 |
21.4 |
31.8 |
27.4 |
6.4 |
8.3 |
12.7 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
2.9 |
4.8 |
|
Warmińsko-mazurskie |
216.2 |
24.5 |
37.9 |
34.6 |
11.0 |
6.9 |
10.6 |
6.1 |
3.5 |
7.6 |
6.8 |
|
Wielkopolskie |
242.2 |
28.3 |
42.5 |
40.9 |
7.7 |
9.2 |
13.8 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
4.0 |
6.5 |
|
Zachodniopomorskie |
211.2 |
23.8 |
44.4 |
31.0 |
8.0 |
8.2 |
11.8 |
5.6 |
4.7 |
3.4 |
6.3 |
|
Poland |
213.9 |
24.9 |
37.3 |
32.9 |
7.2 |
8.5 |
12.8 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
3.9 |
6.0 |
In addition to differences in morbidity and mortality at the level of voivodeships, differences in 5-year net survival rates were also observed in Poland (diagnosis from 2015 to 2019, end point of observation on December 31, 2019). The 5-year cancer net survival rate for the whole country was 55.5%, with the highest values recorded in central and eastern Poland. In women, compared to men, higher values were found in all voivodeships (tab. XII).
|
Voivodship |
Geographical distribution of 5-year cancer survival rate (%) |
|
|
males |
female |
|
|
Dolnośląskie |
48.8% |
57% |
|
Kujawsko-pomorskie |
50.5% |
55.3% |
|
Lubelskie |
53.4% |
60.8% |
|
Lubuskie |
51.8% |
58.7% |
|
Łódzkie |
51.1% |
61.6% |
|
Małopolskie |
53% |
59.4% |
|
Mazowieckie |
55.1% |
61.5% |
|
Opolskie |
49% |
58.7% |
|
Podkarpackie |
55% |
61.5% |
|
Podlaskie |
50.7% |
60% |
|
Pomorskie |
57.3% |
61.8% |
|
Śląskie |
48.9% |
55.6% |
|
Świętokrzyskie |
50.8% |
58.8% |
|
Warmińsko-mazurskie |
47.3% |
57% |
|
Wielkopolskie |
48.9% |
56.7% |
|
Zachodniopomorskie |
50.3% |
59.8% |
|
Poland |
51.6% |
58.9% |
Discussion
Malignant neoplasms are the second leading cause of mortality in Poland. The Polish National Cancer Registry received information about 146,181 new cases and 99,871 thousand cancer deaths in 2020. Compared to the previous year, the number of cases decreased by about 12,000 in both sexes. Mortality in men did not change compared to 2019, and in women it was decreased by about 400 events.
The most common male cancer is prostate cancer (almost 20% of all male cancers). The death rate for prostate cancer has been increasing year by year since 2004.
The second most common cancer among men is lung cancer (16% of all cases), despite the fact that they have been showing a decreasing trend in mortality and morbidity rates for 15 years. Right behind colorectal cancer, in third place is colorectal cancer (11% of all cases). The decrease in incidence and mortality of lung cancer can be attributed to the noticeable reduction of smoking prevalence among Polish men, which has been observed in recent decades. Despite the decrease in the mortality rate, lung cancer is still the dominant cause of male cancer death (26% of all cases), significantly affecting the all cancer mortality curve.
Among women, the three most common cancer sites are: breast, lung and colorectum. The most fatal cancer for this group was lung cancer (18%), followed by breast cancer (15%), which for the last 10 years has been on an upward trend.
Poland’s cancer incidence and death trends are influenced by the population’s age distribution and exposure to carcinogens, particularly cigarette smoking (female population) and poor diet. In 2020, there were more than 1000 more female lung cancer deaths than breast cancer deaths.
The Polish National Cancer Registry has received fewer incident cancer cases in 2020 than in 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease of 15% for men and 14% for women. The COVID-19 pandemic (ICD-10 U07.1, U07.2) caused 41,451 deaths in Poland in 2020. 7,043 (17%) of COVID-19 deaths were related to cancer, with men accounting for 61% of these deaths [6]. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in limitations in performing planned procedures and diagnostic possibilities in both screening and early diagnosis [6]. It can be seen that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the trend of cancer detection in Poland, and further effects of this phenomenon will be observed in the coming years.
Conclusions
The decrease in the incidence of cancer in 2020 was probably related to the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, access to public health care was limited due to the reduction of patient admission in clinics, the development of telemedicine instead of a conventional doctor’s visit, and the transformation of hospitals into specialist hospitals treating only COVID-19, which could have influenced the postponement of the diagnosis of cancer.
Malignant neoplasms constitute a significant health problem, especially in young and middle-aged individuals (25–64 years old). In 2020, the most frequently diagnosed cancers among men in Poland were prostate, lung and colorectal cancers. In the female population, leading cancer sites still remain: breast, lung and colorectum. The highest mortality was observed due to lung cancer, colorectal cancer and, depending on sex, prostate or breast cancer.
Strengths and limitations of the report
The analysis covers the entire population of Poland and is the best source of data on the incidence of cancer. Registration of cancers in the Polish National Cancer Registry (PNCR) is obligatory, which allows for high completeness of data. Unfortunately, the year 2020 caused disturbances in the functioning of health care facilities, which was reflected in the number of applications to the PNCR.
Data availability
The presented data come from the Polish National Cancer Registry (PNCR) and is available at https://onkologia.org.pl/.
Conflict of interest: none declared
Urszula Wojciechowska
Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology
National Cancer Registry
ul. Roentgena 5
02-781 Warszawa, Poland
e-mail: Urszula.Wojciechowska@pib-nio.pl
Received and accepted: 7 Apr 2023
