Bladder, penile, renal pelvis and testis cancers: A population based analysis of incidence and survival 1977-2013

Cancers comprise a significant proportion of urologic workload. The epidemiology of prostate and renal cancers is well described. We report the incidence, survival and predictors of survival for non-prostate, non-renal urologic cancers between 1977 and 2013.

All patients in the South Australian Cancer Registry diagnosed with bladder, testis, penis, renal pelvis, ureteric and other male genital organ cancers between 1977 and 2013 were included. Demographic data included age, sex, year of diagnosis, grade, and metropolitan/rural status. Changes in incidence, survival and predictors of survival are reported for each cancer type.

Between 1977 and 2013, bladder cancer was the most common of the studied urologic cancers (6465/9317). Age standardized incidence rate for bladder cancer decreased from 15.6-9.0 per 100,000 in 2013 (Annual Percentage Change (APC) -0.97 %, p < 0.05 %). Between 1977 and 2013 mortality has increased in patients with bladder cancer (HR 1.01 per year, p = 0.004). Testicular cancer diagnoses increased from 1.7 to 4.7 per 100,000 through 1977-2012 (APC 2.41 %, p < 0.05 %). Survival has increased (HR 0.95 per year, p < 0.001). Incidence of penile cancers has increased from 0.23 to 0.46 per 100,000 (APC 2.8 %); Penile cancer survival has remained static (HR 1.02 p = 0.23).Five and ten year survival estimates were highest for testicular cancer - 93.4 % and 91.1 % respectively; and lowest for renal pelvis - 36.3 % and 24.6 %.

The incidence of non-prostate, non-renal urologic cancers remains low and stable. The age-standardized incidence of testicular cancer has increased whilst there has been a decline in the age-standardized incidence of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer survival has decreased since the 1970s.