During the last 5 years before submitting the application, I stayed outside Poland longer than the permissible break, can I still obtain a resident's residence permit?

If you document that your stays outside of Poland were related to:

• performing professional duties for a Polish employer (delegations) or accompanying a spouse or a parent in such trips, or
• a special personal situation requiring going outside the territory of Poland, if it did not last longer than 6 months, e.g. treatment, or
• taking part in internships, classes conducted during the course of studies at a Polish university,

then despite exceeding the period when you could stay outside Poland, it will not be an obstacle to granting a permit.