What is Penile Cancer?
Are you at risk for penile cancer?
Penile cancer is rare in the U.S. but is often found too late. It’s diagnosed in fewer than 1 man in 100,000 each year and accounts for fewer than 1% of cancers in men in the United States. Penile cancer occurs when cells start to grow out of control in the penis, however, its diagnosis isn’t straightforward. Early symptoms of penile cancer can often be confused with another condition. Because of this, it is often found too late.
How to get early detection for penile cancer
If penile cancer is found early, there is a good chance for successful treatment and remission. The longer that the diagnosis is delayed, the worse it can progress in your body, making it harder to reverse. Treatment for more advanced cancer may be less successful and more disfiguring.
Early detection is difficult not only because it can be confused with other conditions, but also because often patients are reluctant or embarrassed to talk about their genitals. Some patients are afraid of treatment or surgery on their penis.
If you notice any of the following signs on the foreskin, or the shaft or head of your penis, get checked by a healthcare provider as soon as you can:
- A lump or lumps
- A reddish, velvety rash
- Swelling
- Small, crusty bumps
- Flat, bluish-brown growths
- Fluid (discharge) underneath the foreskin that produces an unpleasant smell
Facts About Penile Cancer
The most common conditions that penile cancer is confused with are allergic reactions, bacterial infections, or fungal infections. If your doctor prescribes antibacterial or antifungal ointments and creams and it doesn’t help, your symptoms may be related to penile cancer.
Bowenoid papulosis is a condition linked to an infection with HPV and tends to occur in younger, sexually active men. It may appear as warts at first, but it produces abnormal cells. This can be mistaken for penile cancer or a type of early-stage cancer called carcinoma in situ.
Older age, smoking, AIDS, HPV, and lack of hygiene are risk factors for penile cancer.
Tumors can form on the penis and are thought to be caused by body fluids that get trapped in the foreskin. These tumors must be washed away routinely, or they can lead to cancer.
Penile cancer is diagnosed by biopsy. If the cells in the piece of skin that was examined look like cancer, you will be diagnosed with a stage of penile cancer. If your doctor believes that the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, other tests will be done.
Treatment for Penile Cancer
If the cancer is found early and is superficial, treatment is easy. For example, if it appears as a tumor on top of the skin, skin cream can treat it. Small lesions can be treated with external beam radiation, and larger, pea-sized lesions can be treated with a small, local excision or “Mohs surgery”. Regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor for new lesions or tumors.
For larger lesions, surgery may be necessary to remove tissue. Your doctor may drain your lymph nodes in the groin. For more advanced stages, a mix of surgery radiation, chemotherapy, or even penis removal may be necessary.
With larger lesions, more tissue needs to be removed. Your surgeon will also consider taking out or draining lymph nodes in the groin. A mix of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may be needed. In cases where the cancer is more advanced, the whole penis may need to be removed.
If you observe any of the signs of penile in this article, schedule a visit with our urologists. They can talk you through any of your concerns, examine the affected areas and help you get the necessary treatment.