Globally prostate and testicular cancer rates climb, but mortality is falling

By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Feb 12 2025

A global study on prostate and testicular cancers reveals rising prevalence and incidence but declining mortality, highlighting the need for targeted healthcare strategies.

Study: Global burden and risk factors of male cancers from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2040. Image Credit: Julien Tromeur / Shutterstock

Prostate and testicular cancers are growing concerns for men’s health worldwide. A recent study by Chinese researchers, published in the journal Scientific Reports, analyzed the global trends in male cancers from 1990 to 2021 and predicted patterns up to 2040. With aging populations and lifestyle factors driving cancer risks, understanding these trends is critical for better prevention, treatment, and policy-making to reduce the burden of male cancers.

Male-Specific Cancers

Male cancers, such as prostate and testicular cancers, contribute significantly to global cancer-related morbidity and mortality among men. Prostate cancer is among the most common cancers in men, often diagnosed late due to mild or absent early symptoms. It can lead to severe complications such as bone metastases, paralysis, and kidney failure.

Testicular cancer, though less common, affects younger men disproportionately and can impact fertility and mental health. The study also noted that psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem, is a significant but often overlooked consequence of male cancer diagnoses. Furthermore, despite medical advancements, disparities in cancer burden exist between regions and are influenced by socio-economic factors.

Statistics indicate that male cancers have not been as comprehensively studied as female cancers. Furthermore, existing data often focus on either prostate cancer or testicular cancer separately or are outdated. Understanding global trends in prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with male cancers is essential for optimizing healthcare strategies.

The Current Study

The present study aimed to address this knowledge gap by analyzing the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data to provide a comprehensive overview of male cancers worldwide. The study utilized data from the GBD 2021 database, analyzing male cancer trends across 204 countries and 21 global regions from 1990 to 2021. They focused on the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs associated with male cancers.

The study categorized countries using the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), which accounts for income, education, and fertility rates. The SDI classification allowed the researchers to compare cancer burdens across different economic and social contexts. They also used various statistical models to explore the correlations between SDI and cancer burden.

To identify drivers of change in cancer cases over time, the team used specific algebraic methods to isolate the contributions of aging, population growth, and epidemiological changes to the observed trends. Numerous other statistical models were also applied to predict future trends up to 2040, including estimates for future prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs of prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

The study focused exclusively on quantitative epidemiological data rather than clinical treatment outcomes. However, it acknowledged that late-stage prostate cancer can cause severe complications such as spinal metastases and renal failure, which influence healthcare burdens. By systematically assessing trends and risk factors, the researchers aimed to provide insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions for reducing the global burden of male cancers.

Key Findings

The study found that male cancers have shown a consistent upward trend in prevalence and incidence, while mortality and DALYs associated with male cancers have decreased. In 2021, the global age-standardized rates of prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs for prostate cancer were 260.05, 34.05, 12.63, and 217.83, respectively, per 100,000 people. For testicular cancer, these rates were lower at 16.59, 2.24, 0.29, and 13.83, respectively.

Importantly, the study identified notable regional disparities. High-SDI regions, such as North America and Western Europe, exhibited the highest prevalence and incidence rates, while low-SDI regions, such as Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, had the highest mortality and DALY rates due to disparities in healthcare access.

The age analysis revealed that prostate cancer burden is highest in men over 70, while testicular cancer primarily affects those aged 25 to 34 years. Furthermore, before the age of 45, testicular cancer presents a greater disease burden than prostate cancer, but after 45, prostate cancer dominates male cancer statistics. High-SDI regions had the highest prevalence and incidence, whereas low-SDI regions had the highest mortality and DALY rates.

The study also found that the long-term epidemiological trends of prostate cancer have fluctuated, with a slowdown in prevalence and incidence after 1996, a decrease after 2008, and stabilization after 2013. This suggests that shifts in screening practices and public health policies may have influenced detection rates over time.

Furthermore, while aging populations were identified as the primary driver of prostate cancer cases, the researchers determined that epidemiological changes played a larger role in driving testicular cancer trends. Population growth was identified as a key factor influencing mortality rates.

Smoking and diets high in calcium were identified as risk factors for prostate cancer. However, the study emphasized that aging remains the dominant factor influencing prostate cancer prevalence and incidence.

Additionally, the forecasts for 2040 predicted a continued rise in prevalence and incidence but a decline in mortality and DALYs. For prostate cancer, prevalence is expected to rise to 266.23 per 100,000, while mortality is projected to decrease to 9.11 per 100,000. Meanwhile, for testicular cancer, the burden is expected to remain stable, with only slight changes in incidence and mortality.

The researchers acknowledged that the study had some major limitations, including potential biases in GBD data collection and the exclusion of genetic or environmental variables. They believe future research should integrate molecular and clinical data for a more comprehensive understanding of male cancer trends.

Conclusions

To summarize, the study highlighted the growing burden of male cancers and emphasized the need for targeted prevention and healthcare strategies. Although the incidence and prevalence of male cancers are rising, improved treatment methods are also reducing mortality and DALYs.

Future policymakers must focus on high-risk groups, particularly older men for prostate cancer and younger men for testicular cancer. Strengthening screening programs and addressing lifestyle risk factors will also be key to mitigating the future impact of these diseases. Additionally, regional disparities in healthcare access and cancer mortality must be addressed to ensure equitable outcomes across different socio-economic settings.