Causes of late diagnosis of the reproductive organs' cancer in the opinion of suffering women from urban and rural areas of Lublin as an indicator of the condition of the early cancer detection system: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Tumours as well as the cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of deaths in Poland. This article contains excerpts from research on complex causes of late diagnosis of cancer among the region's residents.


OBJECTIVE
One of the specific aims of the research undertaken was to learn about subjective assessment of women suffering from cancer taking into account its late diagnosis.


METHODS
The research was conducted on 130 women with diagnosed cancer of reproductive organs in the late stage of the disease, who were in oncological care. The method of diagnostic survey in the form of a questionnaire was developed for the study.


RESULTS
The research reveals that the place of living has an impact on the opinions of suffering women as for the causes of late diagnosis of cancer and, secondly, that their oncological awareness is low.


CONCLUSIONS
In the examined group, cancer awareness of women already having cancers - irrespective of the environment of settling, was low and did not constitute the grounds for taking pro-health decisions in the area of the early diagnostic testing of cancer. This fully confirms the need for the research on effective tools to increase the awareness, particularly in the population of healthy persons, including menopausal and postmenopausal women.The opinions indirectly indicate a weaker organization and effectiveness of the activities of the cancer prevention programs in the country than those organized in the city.
Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
Renata
R
Domżał-Drzewicka
Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
Marianna
M
Charzyńska-Gula
Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
Zdzisława
Z
Szadowska-Szlachetka
Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Bartoszek
Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
Andrzej
A
Stanisławek
cancer; diagnosis; prevention; women