Testis cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We quantified the burden of testis cancer in the United States by identifying trends in its incidence, its treatment and the use of health care resources to estimate the economic impact of the disease.


METHODS
The analytical methods used to generate these results were described previously.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of testis cancer in the United States increased 46% between 1975 and 2001. During the same period the ratio of seminoma to nonseminoma increased and there were fewer men presenting with stage II and III tumors. Survival rates increased successively, attaining the current level of 95.9%. Treatment patterns changed and active surveillance increased as a primary treatment modality. Overall hospitalization rates for men with testis cancer decreased from 1.8/100,000 in 1994 and 1.4/100,000 in 2000. Care for white men shifted to the outpatient setting, which did not occur for black men. The estimated annual expenditure for testis cancer for privately insured individuals between ages 18 and 54 years was $6,236. National estimates of annual medical expenditures placed the total cost of treatment at $21.8 million in 2000, representing an increase of 10% over the total in 1994. Of men with testis cancer 16% missed work for treatment of the disease with an average of 8.4 total hours of work missed.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost of testis cancer is estimated at almost $21.8 million annually. It appears to be increasing with time despite a shift to active surveillance treatments and less hospitalization.
Sokoloff
Mitchell H
MH
Section of Urologic Oncology, Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Joyce
Geoffrey F
GF
Wise
Matthew
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D015996:Survival Rate; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology