This paper presents the epidemiological picture of cancer in Poland, its changes over time and a comparison with other countries of the European Union (EU). The mortality time trends for the main cancer sites in Poland are similar to those observed in other EU countries. However, the epidemiological transformation in cancer mortality in Poland is delayed with respect to countries of Western Europe. The overall epidemiological trends are an average of the individual trends for different cancers, often dominated by changes in trends for the major cancer sites. This is observed, for example, in the case of male lung cancer mortality in Poland. In the second part of the study we analysed cancer morbidity, which also demonstrated clear differences in time trends in each site. Incidence trends measured by the absolute number of newly diagnosed diseases depend on many factors. The most important factor is the modifiable environmental risk factors (e.g. smoking prevalence), as well as the changes in the age structure the population. The incidence curve grows exponentially with the increase of lifespan (a non-modifiable factor). The vast majority (60%) of cancer cases are diagnosed among people over 65 years, and in Poland a steady increase of population in this age group is observed.

Three phenomena emerge as the most characteristic of the time trends of cancer morbidity in Poland. (1) A sharp decline in incidence of lung cancer in men (after a period of rising incidence that lasted for decades). (2) Rapid growth in incidence of prostate cancer, especially after 1990. (3) A dramatic increase in newly diagnosed breast cancer cases in women, which dominated the incidence of cancer in women in Poland (currently one in four of newly diagnosed cancers among women is breast cancer).In addition, a detailed epidemiological analysis was conducted for several major cancer sites (lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, cervix and stomach) and its results were compared with trends observed in other countries. The biggest success in cancer control was achieved in those cancer locations, for which prevention is possible (especially lung cancer in men), and also in those cancers, where it is possible to effectively screen a population (cervical cancer, breast cancer).