Information From Your Health Care Provider

PENILE CANCER

Basic information

description

Penile cancer is cancer of the penis. This includes the glans (tip), corona (rounded border of the glans), or prepuce (foreskin covering the glans). Penis cancer is rare. It usually affects men over age 50.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

A small, circular lesion (resembles a pimple) or persistent, painless sore on the penis. The lesion is easily visible in a circumcised male, but it may go unnoticed in an uncircumcised male.
Pain, bleeding, or discharge.
Discomfort with urination.
Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin.

causes

Unknown. A human papillomavirus (HPV) may play a role in the cause. The virus can be sexually transmitted.

risk increases with

Phimosis (inability to retract foreskin over the glans).
Smegma (thick, sometimes smelly substance that builds up under an intact foreskin) may play a role.
Cigarette smoking.
HPV infection. Risk of infection increases with: starting sexual activity at an early age, having many sexual partners, having sex with a person who has many partners, or having unprotected sex.
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Psoriasis (skin disorder) treatment that uses drugs along with ultraviolet light.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

No specific preventive measures. Avoid risk factors where possible. Practice good genital hygiene to reduce risks of infection or irritation. If uncircumcised, retract the foreskin and clean the entire penis when bathing.
Do a self-exam of the penis and testicles monthly. This can help detect cancers early, when treatment is most successful. See your health care provider for any sign of infection or sores on the penis.
Practice safe sex.
Circumcision appears to reduce the risk if it is done shortly after birth. It offers little or no prevention when done in an adult.

expected outcomes

Will depend on the extent of the cancer at diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment has a more favorable outcome. Recurrence is possible after treatment.

possible complications

Men may delay treatment due to denial, embarassment, fear of surgery, and loss of sexual function. Treatment delay increases the risk of the cancer spreading.

diagnosis & treatment

general measures

Your health care provider will do a physical exam of the penis and ask questions about symptoms. A number of medical tests will be done. The tests help to diagnose the cancer and then determine if it has spread (staging).
Treatment varies and depends on the location and size of tumor, any spread of the cancer, health, age, and preferences. Treatment may include surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy (anticancer drugs).
Surgery is usually the main treatment
- With early diagnosis, it may involve just removing the tumor. Different surgical procedures are available.
- Circumcision is done for cancer of the foreskin.
- Invasive tumors may require part or total removal of the penis (penectomy). If needed, a new opening is created for urine to exit the body. Penis reconstruction may be an option.
- Lymph nodes may be removed if cancer has spread.
Radiation therapy may be used to kill cancer cells.
Treatment may involve steps to relieve symptoms and make you comfortable, rather than treating the cancer.
Counseling may help you cope with having cancer.
To learn more: American Cancer Society; (800) ACS-2345; website: www.cancer.org or National Cancer Institute; (800) 4-CANCER; website: www.nci.nih.gov.

medications

Anticancer drugs may be prescribed. They may be used on the skin, taken by mouth, or given by injection.

activity

Resume normal activities as soon as possible after treatment. Sexual relations are possible if enough penile tissue remains after surgery. If the total penis is removed, sexual pleasure is still possible using special techniques.