[Views of students of extension nursing studies about cancer prophylaxis]

Cancer prophylaxis seems nowadays to be the more and more powerful tool in fight with these serious diseases. The aim of this work is to find out opinions of students of nursing extension studies on contemporary cancer prophylaxis.

The question about possibilities of practical efforts for prophylaxis and early detection of cancer was directed to 160 students of four consecutive years (2002-2006), at the end of the fourth year of lasting five and a half years extension nursing studies, during ending exam on subject: oncological nursing. There were 154 women and 6 men, predominantly at their third decade of life, with nursing experience approximately more than 5 years.

Out of 160 asked students, 131 of them firstly indicated necessity of breast cancer prophylaxis, 117 mentioned lung cancer, 113 cervix cancer, 95 colorectal cancer, 33 prostate cancer. In families with cancer problems, more frequent control investigations (23 answers), and genetic tests (16) were called for. Patients should be qualified to appropriate risk groups (13) and controlled more frequently there (24). Apart from necessary wide education in media (126) personal contact with patient to discuss his or her personal problems relating to cancer is needed (91). If atypical symptoms are self-detected by patients it should alert them to not neglect and contact family physician (33). Healthy diet (62) containing fresh vegetables and fruits (73), high fibre diet (42) with less animal fat (38) and less red meat (30), containing no preservative agents (45) is recommended. Increased physical activity (84) to cease or reduce smoking (102), and alcohol intake (55), limited exposition to ultraviolet rays (49), and systematic controls of breast (105), uterus cervix (88), lungs (77), colon (55) and prostate (28) are proposed. The pollution of environment by combustion gases and smokes (34) not excluding risk factors of medical workplace (29) are mentioned as cancerogenic factors.

In the time of increasing incidence of cancer in Poland it is necessary to elaborate a complex model of primary cancer prophylaxis and early detection of it and to implement it in practice. For better effectiveness of such systemic solution wide involvement of nursing staff is mandatory. Nurses should be, very well and consciously prepared to play their role through adequate educational efforts undertaken during nursing studies.