A breakthrough in the treatment of breast cancer in seniors. Warsaw has the first Geriatric Oncology Unit in Poland.
As part of ONKOger, each patient undergoes a comprehensive geriatric assessment. This assessment takes into account not only comorbidities but also physical fitness, functioning in daily life, memory, and level of social support.
Based on this assessment, the patient is assigned to one of three groups:
- that can be safely treated in accordance with applicable guidelines,
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- requiring minor modifications to therapy (e.g. easing it),
- requiring a significant change in the treatment plan due to the high risk of complications.
Decisions about the treatment plan are made by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including a clinical oncologist, an oncological surgeon, a geriatrician, a cardiologist, and a nurse.
The initial results of the pilot are promising. After a geriatric assessment, as many as half of the patients had their treatment plans modified. "This reduced the number of complications and hospitalizations, and the patients tolerated the treatment much better," emphasizes Dr. Katarzyna Broczek, a geriatrics expert and co-author of the project.
By the end of April 2026, the Clinic's Sub-Department will provide care to several hundred patients aged 75+.
A wide range of city programs for seniorsThe establishment of this pioneering sub-unit within the National Institute of Health (NIO) perfectly complements and strengthens the range of municipal health support programs offered by the capital. The city consistently strives to ensure that the capital's senior years are active, healthy, and safe.
Among the key city initiatives that serve Warsaw's seniors, it is worth mentioning:
• Health promotion program "Active Senior": Focuses on health education (diet, stress management, addiction prevention) and physical activity, offering group activities such as Nordic walking, dancing or swimming pool activities.
• Free vaccinations for seniors: The city finances, among others, free vaccinations against influenza, and from 2024/2025 it is introducing new programs: "Niezłomne Warszawianka" (osteoporosis prevention in women 65+) and "PneumoOnko" (free vaccinations against pneumococci for cancer patients - which constitutes direct support for beneficiaries of the Geriatric Oncology Sub-Department).
• Senior Support Corps: A program for people over 60 years of age who have difficulty living independently. It offers social support, assistance with accessing healthcare, psychological support, and assistance with everyday matters (e.g., filling prescriptions, delivering food).
• Support Centers for Seniors (OWS): They provide daily stays with activities to improve and maintain fitness, creative workshops, memory training and access to a hot meal.
The treatment model proposed by the NIO-PIB team is a breakthrough step towards adapting oncological treatment to the needs of elderly patients.
"Modern oncology is one that truly responds to the needs of patients—regardless of age, health status, or life situation. We believe that ONKOger is just the beginning of changes that will make treatment safer, more effective, and more empathetic," summarizes Aleksandra Konieczna, MD, PhD, clinical oncologist and coordinator of the Geriatric Oncology Subunit.
This approach, combined with extensive city programs, aims to create a comprehensive system in Warsaw that puts the health and quality of life of seniors first.
