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Bladder cancer remains one of the most significant oncological challenges in Poland. Each year, approximately 8,000 new cases are diagnosed, and 4,500 people die from the disease. Although guidelines for early diagnosis exist, patients often seek specialist care at an advanced stage of the disease, significantly reducing their chances of effective treatment.

Urologist Prof. Piotr Chłosta emphasized a key symptom that should prompt immediate action for diagnosis: “Painless hematuria appears suddenly and may disappear just as quickly, leading patients to ignore it. However, this is the first, main, and fundamental symptom of bladder cancer.”

Szymon Chrostowski, President of the “Win Health” Foundation, highlighted the crucial role of patient education: “Patient education helps individuals understand the treatment pathway, making them more likely to follow medical recommendations during therapy. The most important factor in reducing the risk of bladder cancer is quitting smoking, but reducing exposure to chemical carcinogens is also essential. This is particularly relevant when selecting equipment and operational methods for firefighters.”

For patients with advanced bladder cancer, systemic treatment is crucial for improving survival rates. Modern therapeutic options, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies, are standard in countries with well-developed oncology care. However, in Poland, access to these treatments remains limited, significantly impacting the quality of care.

Mateusz Oczkowski, Deputy Director of the Department of Drug Policy and Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health, assured that urothelial cancer is a priority in the ministry’s oncology agenda: “Three reimbursement procedures for targeted drugs are currently in progress. We have also included a fourth substance, which is recommended in clinical guidelines, for evaluation by the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System. We aim to have all four of these substances included in the Polish reimbursement system.”

Participants of the Debate:

• Mateusz Oczkowski – Deputy Director of the Department of Drug Policy and Pharmacy, Ministry of Health
• Tadeusz Tomaszewski – Member of the Polish Parliament, Member of the Association of Volunteer Fire Brigades of Poland
• Prof. Piotr Wysocki – Head of the Clinical Oncology Department, University Hospital in Kraków
• Prof. Piotr Chłosta – Head of the Urology Department, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University
• Prof. Paweł Wiechno – Head of the Conservative Treatment Department, Urological Cancer Clinic, Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Chairman of the Mazovian Branch of the Polish Oncological Society
• Dr. Jakub Żołnierek – Clinical Oncologist
• Szymon Chrostowski – President of the “Win Health” Foundation

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