BETHESDA — A new study found that men have higher odds than women of receiving a later-stage cancer diagnosis across numerous cancer types. The analysis of 2,401,772 nonreproductive solid organ cancer cases from 2015 to 2022, excluding 2020, showed men are more likely to have late-stage diagnoses for 20 different cancers.

Published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the study utilized data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 21 database. Men represented 56.9% of the study population. For 16 of the 30 cancer types examined, men were more likely to be diagnosed at a regional stage compared to women. Men also showed higher odds for distant metastasis at diagnosis for 17 of the 30 cancers. Around 45% of all cancers in the study were localized at the time of diagnosis.

Specific examples include adjusted odds ratios for regional tongue cancer diagnosis, which stood at 2.51 for men compared to women (95% CI 2.40-2.64). For distant tongue cancer, the adjusted odds ratio was 2.34 (95% CI 2.16-2.53). Regional salivary gland cancer had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.93 (95% CI 1.78-2.09), and distant salivary gland cancer showed an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (95% CI 1.77-2.20). Regional thyroid cancer diagnoses in men had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.74 (95% CI 1.69-1.78), while distant thyroid cancer diagnoses had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.28 (95% CI 2.14-2.43). In contrast, men were less likely than women to have regional-stage diagnoses for larynx and bladder cancers, and less likely to have distant metastasis at diagnosis for bladder, anal, and liver cancers.

Beth Maclin, a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute, stated, "The findings of this study underscore pronounced and site-specific sex differences in cancer stage at diagnosis, suggesting the need for targeted strategies for early detection and intervention." Maclin added, "Additional studies are warranted to investigate the underlying causes of these stage differences in order to inform future interventions focused on reducing diagnostic delays, particularly for males." She noted, "One explanation could be differences in cancer screening uptake for sites that can be detected through screening." Maclin also said, "It is also possible that there are differences in health care-seeking behaviors; existing research shows that women go to the doctor more than men, which could mean more opportunities for clinicians to catch cancer symptoms earlier, thus leading more women to get diagnosed at the localized stage instead of regional or distant stages."

Jose Barreau, a medical doctor at PreOncology, explained these disparities may be driven by a combination of biological, behavioral, and healthcare utilization factors. "Men are generally less likely to have regular interactions with the healthcare system, are less likely to establish ongoing primary care relationships, and often delay seeking medical evaluation," Barreau said. He also cited traditional gender norms, where men might underestimate risk or postpone preventive care until symptoms arise, and practical barriers such as work schedules and access to care.