Testicular Cancer Incidence and Mortality in New Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To examine incidence and survival of testicular cancer in New Mexico, overall and separately for border and non-border counties.Methods: Incidence and 5-year survival rates for testicular cancer were obtained from the SEER18 database using the SEER*Stat program following established NCI protocols. Incidence data were com­pared using Student’s t-test. Age-adjusted 5-year survival and Kaplan-Meier method were used to estimate survival. Log-rank tests were used to compare survival for New Mexico to the remaining17 geographi­cal areas of the SEER 18 and for the New Mexico border counties to the New Mexico non-border counties. Odds ratios were used to compare testicular stage at diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to account for race/ethnicity, and border status.Results: From 2000-2015, New Mexico had a testicular cancer incidence rate of 6.3 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than SEER18 (P<.001). The 5-year survival rate in New Mexico did not differ signifi­cantly from the SEER18 (P=.3). Border His­panics had a lower survival rate than border non-Hispanic populations (P=.03). From 2000-2018, New Mexico had a significantly higher proportion of distant cancers than the SEER18 (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.53, P=.005).Conclusions: The higher incidence of testicular cancer in New Mexico does not appear to have a clear explanation based on the current understanding of risk factors; however, the increased incidence in New Mexico does not appear to be associated with increased mortality. The higher propor­tion of advanced testicular cancers in New Mexico may represent a delay in diagnosis. The increased mortality rate seen in Hispan­ic border populations may be due in part to barriers to care.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(2):357- 364; doi:10.18865/ed.30.2.357