Los Ríos region records highest global testicular cancer incidence

The Los Ríos region in Chile has the highest incidence rate of testicular cancer in the world, according to data presented at the annual congress of the Chilean Urology Society in Valdivia.

The region records approximately 16 cases per 100,000 inhabitants annually. This figure significantly exceeds the national average in Chile and is roughly double the rates seen in European countries, where incidence typically ranges between six and eight cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Despite the high number of diagnoses, mortality rates in the region remain low. Marcelo Kerkebe, president of the Chilean Urology Society, attributed this to local healthcare infrastructure that allows for timely medical intervention and high cure rates, even in advanced stages. Medical professionals are specifically urging men between the ages of 20 and 39 to perform regular self-examinations, as this demographic represents the group most affected by the disease.