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Background: An increasing trend of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) has been reported in several countries with different demographic characteristics, and often attributed to increases in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The survival of patients with OPC has steadily improved, especially for those with positive HPV status. This study assessed the incidence, trends, and survival of OPC in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) by age at diagnosis, sex and ethnicity., Methods: The study included all 2109 patients resident in NZ with a primary diagnosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from 2006 to 2020, identified from the National Cancer Registry. We assessed age-standardised incidence rate (ASR), annual percent change (APC) and overall and relative survival rates., Results: The average annual incidence of OPC was 2.2 per 100,000 population. There was a steady increase of 4.9% per year over 15 years. Although the incidence rates were higher in males over the study period, the overall rate of increase was similar in males (4.9%) and in females (4.3%). The incidence was highest in the 50-69-year group (8.8/100,000 population). This age group had an incidence that increased by 7.5% per year to 2018, and then declined. The main increase in rates was seen between the birth cohort of 1946-50 and that of 1956-60. The increase in incidence was seen in Māori and Pākehā/European populations, but no increase was seen in Pacific or Asian populations. The 5-year overall relative survival rate improved from 69% in 2006-13 to 78% in 2014-20. Survival rates were lower in older patients, females, and Māori patients., Conclusion: This study confirmed a substantial increase in OPC incidence in NZ, with some evidence to suggest a recent slowing in this increase. Māori and Pākehā/European had the highest incidence, while Pacific and Asian populations showed the lowest rates and no increase over the study period. Survival rates have improved over time, but remained lower in some demographic groups., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: There has been a significant increase in the use of mobile phones over the last three decades and a possible association with head cancers has been suggested, including cancers of the parotic and other salivary glands. We examined the incidence time trends of parotid and other salivary gland cancers in Australia to ascertain the influence of increased mobile phone use., Methods: Analyses of incidence time trends were carried out using Poisson regression to estimate the annual percentage change (APC) in the incidence of salivary gland cancers of all available national registration data from 1982 to 2016, as well as specific time periods (1982-1993, 1994-2005, 2006-2016) representing changes in the prevalence of mobile phone use., Results: The incidence of parotid gland cancer was stable for the periods 1982-1993 and 1994-2005. During 2006-2016 there was a large decrease in parotid gland cancer for males (APC: -3.71, 95 %CI: -6.66 to -0.67) and a large increase in females (4.80, 1.77-7.91) for adults aged 20-59 years. The incidence for other salivary gland cancers was stable during all the periods., Conclusions: The results do not indicate that mobile phone use increased the incidence of parotid or other salivary gland cancers. An increase in parotid gland cancer in females since 2006 may be attributed to other possible risk factors specific to this gender., (Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Screening may reduce morbidity and mortality associated with melanoma, although in the absence of randomized-controlled trials, this remains unproven., Methods: As part of a randomized community-based trial of melanoma screening in Queensland, Australia, sociodemographic characteristics, skin cancer risk factors and attitudes towards skin cancer associated with attendance at screening clinics and reasons for attendance or non-attendance were examined. A telephone survey was conducted among 743 attendees and 298 non-attendees., Results: After adjustment, the following factors were associated with clinic attendance: age 40-49 years, having fair skin, a personal history of skin cancer or melanoma or concern about a specific spot or mole, and no recent whole-body skin examination by a doctor. The main reasons for attendance were "to see if I have melanoma", "to have a suspicious mole checked" or "to have a whole-body skin examination". The main reasons for non-attendance were lack of knowledge about the clinics, no time or being away while the clinics were held and having had a skin check in the recent past. Overall, 77% of non-attendees compared to 65% of attendees stated they planned to participate in future screening., Conclusions: The results suggest that we were able to attract both men and women equally to a skin screening clinic, along with those at all levels of education and indicate the importance of using well-designed promotional materials to attract community members to skin screening clinics. Future work should test strategies to remove barriers to participation in skin screening identified in this study.

Objectives: To evaluate whether introduction of a national education program for GPs to improve decision making relating to the use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for screening represents 'value-for-money' from the perspective of the Australian Government., Methods: The annual equivalent costs and consequences of a proposed national program in steady state operation are estimated for Australia using 1996 as the reference year. Because of the controversy about the efficacy of screening using PSA testing, two scenarios are modelled. Uncertainty in the model is examined using Monte Carlo simulation methods., Results: In scenario one, our model predicts that the national program would cost dollars 12.5 million (gross) or dollars 6.6 million (net), would reduce the burden of disease by 4.7% of total DALYs due to prostate cancer in those aged 70 and over, with no loss of life and an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of dollars 16,000/DALY (gross) and dollars 8,500/DALY (net). In scenario two, the proposed program would cost dollars 12.5 million (gross) or dollars 7.1 million (net), would reduce the burden of disease by 3.1% of total, increase by 44 the prostate cancer deaths at an ICER of dollars 24,000/DALY (gross) and dollars 14,000/DALY (net)., Conclusions: These findings, with an overall health benefit at moderate cost and acceptable ICER, support the case for consideration of a national education program on the assumption that prostate cancer screening over age 70 does not reduce mortality. A larger Australian study currently being conducted should provide stronger evidence on the value of implementing a full national program.