Distribution of Male Genital System Cancers (MGSC), United States – 1999–2001

Purpose MGSC comprise nearly a third of all cancers in males. Prostate cancer (PrC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among males, and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Testicular cancer (TsC) is the most common solid tumor among males aged 15–34 years. Penile (PnC) and other MGSC are uncommon. Recent national population-based data can further characterize these cancers. Methods Incidence data from 38 CDC-NPCR registries and 5 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries (i.e., 91% of the US), and mortality data from CDCʹs National Center for Health Statistics (100% of the United States), were used to calculate age-specific and age-adjusted rates in 1999–2001 for the United States. Results About 96% and 98% of MGSC cases and deaths, respectively, were PrC. Incidence and death rates of PnC increased with increasing age, as well as incidence rates of other MGSC. PrC rates increased up to 70–79 years, where incidence declined but mortality continued to increase. TsC rates peaked at about 30-39 years, where incidence declined while mortality declined then increased at 80+ years. Compared to white males, age-adjusted incidence and death rates among black males were about twice as high for PrC and five to two times lower for TsC. Rates of PnC and other MGSC did not vary appreciably by white/black race. Analysis of age-adjusted PrC rates by census region showed the Northeast (NE) having the highest incidence rate and the Midwest (MW) and South (S) with the highest death rates. PnC incidence rates were highest in the NE and MW, while PnC death rates were highest in the MW and S. The West had the highest death rates for TsC and the highest incidence rates for other MGSC. TsC incidence rates and other MGSC death rates did not vary appreciably by Census region. Conclusions Demographic variations in the occurrence of uncommon MGSC were observed. Additional analyses by stage, histology, and grade are planned.