The fight against cancer in Poland before 1939

Abstract

O artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento dos cuidados de saúde prestados a doentes com cancro na Polónia antes de 1939. O estudo foca especialmente certas determinantes económicas, sociais e médicas na luta contra o cancro na Europa Central e Oriental pouco conhecidas até à data. Tal como aconteceu em outros países, a luta contra o cancro na Polónia assentava num tratamento de rádio e raios X. No entanto, um equipamento médico moderno, só por si, não assegura uma saúde melhor. Na altura, a luta contra o cancro inscrevia-se mais num contexto socioeconómico do que médico. O artigo baseia-se em registos arquivísticos e na imprensa médica polaca.

Cet article présente le développement des soins de santé pour des patients souffrant du cancer, en Pologne, avant 1939. L’étude se centre sur certains déterminants économiques, sociaux et médicaux dans la lute contre le cancer dans l’Europe Centrale et de l’Est, méconnus jusqu’à ce jour. A l’instar d’autres pays, la lutte contre le cancer, en Pologne, était faite à travers un traitement de radium et de rayons X, néanmoins, un équipement médical modern n’assure pas à lui seul une meilleure santé. A l’époque, la lutte contre le cancer s’inscrivait davantage dans un contexte économique et social plutôt que médical. Cet article se base dur des registres d’archives et la presse médicale Polonaise.

The paper presents the development of health care for patients suffering from cancer in Poland before 1939. The study focuses on certain economic, social and medical determinants of the fight against cancer in Central and Eastern Europe, which have been unrecognized until the present day. Similarly to other countries, the fight against cancer in Poland was identified with access to radium and X-ray treatment, however, modern medical equipment alone did not ensure better health. At the time the fight against cancer had more economic and social context than medical one. The paper is based on archival records and the Polish medical press.