Introduction: Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in collaboration with Bhaktashreshtha Kamalakarpant Laxman Walawalkar Hospital (BKLWH), Dervan, a rural cancer hospital in Ratnagiri, started a population-based cancer registry (PBCR) in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, India in February 2009. Testicular cancer survival is a less-explored area of oncology research. This paper aims to present the 10-year survival of testicular cancer patients in Ratnagiri district for the years 2009–2018.
Methods: The registry follows an active method of case registration. Major sources of the cancer registry are TMC and BKLWH. Data quality control was conducted by TMC, Mumbai. Follow-up was performed by house and village visits/phone calls by registry staff. For survival analysis, the date of diagnosis was the starting date, and the last follow-up date was 31 December 2023. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and relative survival (RS) by the Pohar Perme method.
Results: A total of 43 testicular cancer cases were registered in Ratnagiri PBCR, with incidence and mortality rates of 0.6 and 0.2 per 100,000 population. The 10-year RS of testicular cancer was 63.3% (95% confidence interval: 45.4–76.7). Survival was 100% for localised cases. Other prognostic factors were age at diagnosis (<40 years), histology (seminoma), ‘surgery’ as a treatment modality and ‘completed’ treatment status.
Conclusion: Good health infrastructure and linkage of rural hospitals with the tertiary cancer centre play a pivotal role in improved testicular cancer outcomes. Continued efforts in research and education for health professionals serving as the first point of contact for the population will be essential to enhance testicular management in India.
