Across 20 different cancer types, men are significantly more likely than women to be diagnosed at a later stage, a large national registry study finds. The biggest gaps were seen in tongue, thyroid, and salivary gland cancers, where late-stage diagnosis occurred twice as often in men. Experts point to a mix of biological, behavioral, and healthcare access factors — and say personalized screening strategies could help close the gap.
A new analysis of nearly 2.4 million patients from the NCI's national cancer registry found that men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with cancer at a regional or distant stage across 20 of 30 nonreproductive cancer types studied. The data, covering diagnoses from 2015 to 2022, reinforces a long-standing but troubling pattern: men engage less with preventive healthcare, and that delay is showing up in their cancer outcomes.
The disparity was most striking for tongue, thyroid, and salivary gland cancers, where men were diagnosed at a late stage roughly twice as often as women. Experts say the gap is driven by a mix of biology, traditional gender norms, lower rates of primary care engagement, and practical barriers like work schedules and healthcare access.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Late-stage cancer diagnoses are harder to treat and more likely to be fatal. Closing this gender gap will require moving beyond one-size-fits-all screening guidelines toward personalized, risk-based approaches that meet men where they are.
