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Background: Skin melanoma is one of the three main types of skin cancer along with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and develops from melanocytes. 2019 saw the beginning of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Programme (OPPNS) in Poland. One of the tasks performed was a health promotion campaign for patients. To effectively educate the public, the project was preceded by a survey assessing knowledge on skin cancer prevention methods. Then, the survey was repeated to evaluate the effectiveness of the awareness raising campaign. Materials and methods: both studies were conducted based on an author-developed survey. A representative sample size was determined based on the calculator available at www.cem.pl/pl/analizy/wielkość-proby. In addition, each participant filled in a knowledge upgrade declaration. The analysis employed basic statistical data, such as absolute numbers and structural indicators. Results and Conclusions: Knowledge upgrade score of 9.16 (out of 10) was declared by 99.7% of the respondents. As many as 99.0% of them declared an intent to change their lifestyle to a healthier one. Thus, the education provided to the Programme participants was confirmed to have raised their awareness of skin cancer prevention and self-examination methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The growth in the incidence of cancer that had been observed in Europe gave rise in 1987 to the development of simple recommendations which were aimed to promote lifestyle changes by generating appropriate motivation, knowledge and skills. Aim of the study: The European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) as an effective tool to fight with cancers. Material and methods: The Code (English version), analysis of the Globocan and the National Cancer Registry data. Results and conclusions: The Code comprises twelve simple messages: Do not smoke. Make your home smoke free. Take action to be a healthy body weight. Be physically active. Have a healthy diet. Limit your alcohol intake. Avoid too much sun. Protect yourself against cancer-causing substances. Protect yourself against harmful radiation. Try to breastfeed your baby. Remember to take part in vaccination programmes. Take part in organised cancer screening programmes for early detection of breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer. As shown by epidemiological studies, a third of cancer cases can be avoided by a healthy lifestyle, another third can be detected at an early stage and effectively treated. Unfortunately, as studies show, the Polish are not aware of the complementary roles of primary and secondary prevention, and do not change their habits despite knowing how to live a healthy lifestyle. If we do not manage to change our lifestyles, it some 20-40 years we may run short of human and financial resources to treat the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to a limited number of hospital beds dedicated to radioiodine therapy (RIT) in some countries, a fractionated dose of radioiodine may be considered as the ablation therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of the study was to compare the late effects of ablation therapy with single and fractionated dose of radioiodine in patients with DTC., Patients and Methods: Patients with low-risk DTC referred to our institution 5-16 weeks after thyroidectomy, treated with 2.2 GBq of 131I, either in a single dose (2.2 GBq, group 1) or in two fractions (1.1 GBq+1.1 GBq administered with a 24 h interval, group 2) were retrospectively included. Clinical outcome of the treatment and overall survival (OS) was evaluated., Results: 83 patients treated with single dose and 186 patients treated with fractionated dose of radioiodine were included. Mean duration of follow-up was 8.0 vs.7.8 years, respectively (p=ns). There were no significant differences between the groups in male to female ratio, age at the time of the first RIT, proportion of papillary thyroid cancers, volume of the thyroid tissue, thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroglobulin levels before first RIT. RIT was repeated in 55.4% and 54.8% of patients from group 1 and 2 respectively (p=ns). There were no significant differences including the course and outcomes of the treatment between the groups, measured by: cumulative dose of 131I, mean number of 131I administrations and mean thyreoglobulin concentration at the follow-up. Also the overall survival did not differ significantly between the groups. Probability of 5-year OS was 98.6% for patients treated with single and 99.5% with fractionated dose of 131-I, 10 year OS - 98.6 and 97.1% respectively, 15 year OS - 95.5 and 92.9% respectively (p=ns)., Conclusions: In the long-term follow-up, radioiodine ablation therapy with fractionated doses in low-risk DTC patients is equally effective as with single dose. < p > < /p >.