On Wednesday, November 6, 2026, the second edition of the preventive campaign "Blue November" (Niebieski Listopad) began in Warsaw. The event was inaugurated at the Mazovian Voivodeship Office (Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki), with the goal of increasing public awareness about male cancers, including prostate and testicular cancer. Provincial authorities are calling on men to undergo regular medical examinations, emphasizing that early detection of the disease is crucial for effective treatment.
Statistics and the necessity of prevention
Prostate cancer poses a significant health challenge on a national scale. According to available data, this tumor accounts for over 20 percent of all cancer cases among men in Poland. Approximately 5,000 Polish men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that in most cases, the disease does not present clear warning signals until it is already advanced.
This is why specialists recommend that all men over the age of 50 undergo regular diagnostics. This recommendation also applies to younger individuals who belong to high-risk groups. Knowing the family history of illnesses and closely observing any worrying symptoms, which should not be dismissed, is also of key importance.
Inauguration and voices of the officials
The second edition of the "Blue November" campaign was officially opened by the Mazovian Voivode Mariusz Frankowski and Deputy Voivode Patryk Fajdek. In his speech, Voivode Mariusz Frankowski emphasized that taking care of one's health is gender-neutral and is an expression of responsibility for both oneself and one's loved ones. He urged participants to note down their appointment dates in their calendars and to motivate their closest relatives to have regular doctor visits. He noted that there are no good reasons to postpone diagnostics.
Deputy Voivode Patryk Fajdek, in turn, pointed to the comprehensive nature of the actions undertaken by the office. He stressed that the institution does not limit itself to merely verbally persuading people about the importance of prevention, but creates a space for acquiring knowledge. He mentioned the opportunity to participate in educational meetings and to practically learn the rules of self-examination. In his view, mutual motivation to take care of one's health is just as important as medical knowledge itself.
Educational and practical program
During the campaign's inauguration, the organizers prepared a rich content program for the participants. The main point was a lecture on cancers of the male reproductive system, delivered by Dr. Artur Andrzej Antoniewicz (Dr hab. n. med.) – the provincial consultant in urology.
Another key element of the meeting was a presentation prepared by representatives of the "GLADIATOR" Association named after Professor Tadeusz Koszarowski. Marcin Włodarczyk, President of the Main Board of the Association of Men with Prostate Diseases, together with his deputy Marta Bogucka, addressed the topic of male health in an open manner, aiming to break existing taboos in this area.
As part of the event, a practical instruction on providing first medical aid was also conducted. The classes were led by experts from the Department of State Medical Rescue (Wydział Państwowego Ratownictwa Medycznego), which allowed participants to acquire life-saving skills in situations of life-threatening danger.
Available tests and informational stands
On the premises of the Mazovian Voivodeship Office, additional stations were set up to allow for body mass composition analysis. Participants could also visit preventive-educational stands, where they received information regarding health and methods of cancer disease prevention. The organizers hope that the combination of specialist lectures, support from patient organizations, and the possibility of practically checking basic health parameters will influence men to be more open about the need for regular examinations.