Learn About Penile Cancer
Penile cancer is cancer that starts in the penis, an organ that makes up part of the male reproductive system.
Cancer - penis; Squamous cell cancer - penis; Glansectomy; Partial penectomy
Cancer of the penis is rare. Its exact cause is unknown. However, certain risk factors include:
- Uncircumcised men who don't keep the area under the foreskin clean. This leads to buildup of smegma, a cheese-like, foul-smelling substance under the foreskin.
- History of genital warts, or human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Smoking.
- Injury to the penis.
The cancer usually affects middle age and older men.
Early symptoms may include:
- Sore, bump, rash, or swelling at the tip or on the shaft of the penis
- Foul-smelling discharge beneath the foreskin
As the cancer advances, symptoms may include:
- Pain and bleeding from the penis (may occur with advanced disease)
- Lumps in the groin area from spread of the cancer to the groin lymph nodes
- Weight loss
- Difficulty in passing urine
Treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor and how much it has spread.
Treatment for penile cancer may include:
- Chemotherapy -- uses medicines to kill cancer cells
- Radiation -- uses high-powered x-rays to kill cancer cells
- Surgery - cuts out and removes the cancer
If the tumor is small or near the tip of the penis, surgery may be done to remove only the cancerous part of the penis where the cancer is found. Depending on the exact location, this is called a glansectomy or partial penectomy. Laser surgery may be used to treat some tumors.
For more severe tumors, total removal of the penis (total penectomy) is often needed. A new opening will be created in the groin area to allow urine to exit the body. This procedure is called a urethrostomy.
Chemotherapy may be used along with surgery.
Radiation therapy may be used along with surgery. A type of radiation therapy called external beam therapy is often used. This method delivers radiation to the penis from outside the body. This therapy is most often performed 5 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks.
H Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr And Res Inst Life Time Cancer Scrn Ctr Inc
Peter Johnstone is a Radiation Oncologist in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Johnstone and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Penile Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Penile Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Penectomy, and Orchiectomy. Dr. Johnstone is currently accepting new patients.
City Of Hope Medical Foundation
Tanya Dorff is an Oncologist and a Hematologist Oncology provider in South Pasadena, California. Dr. Dorff and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Penile Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Prostate Cancer, Penile Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Prostatectomy, and Penectomy.
Maarten Albersen practices in Leuven, Belgium. Mr. Albersen and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Penile Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Penile Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction (ED), Peyronie Disease, Penectomy, and Prostatectomy.
The outcome can be good with early diagnosis and treatment. Urination and sexual function can often be maintained.
Untreated, penile cancer can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) early in the disease.
Contact your provider if symptoms of penile cancer develop.
Penile cancer is very rare. Circumcision may decrease the risk of penile cancer and of developing penile cancer due to HPV infection. HPV vaccination for children and young adults can also lower the risk of developing cancer due to HPV infection in adulthood.
Men who are not circumcised should be taught at an early age the importance of cleaning beneath the foreskin as part of their personal hygiene.
Safer sexual practices, such as limiting the number of sexual partners, and using condoms to prevent HPV infection, may decrease the risk of developing cancer of the penis.
Summary: This phase II trial studies how well cabozantinib works in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab in treating patients with rare genitourinary (GU) tumors that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body. Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ...
Summary: The iCaRe2 is a multi-institutional resource created and maintained by the Fred \& Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to collect and manage standardized, multi-dimensional, longitudinal data and biospecimens on consented adult cancer patients, high-risk individuals, and normal controls. The distinct characteristic of the iCaRe2 is its geographical coverage, with a significant percentage of small and rur...
Published Date: July 29, 2024
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Heinlen JE, Ramadan MO, Stratton K, Culkin DJ. Cancer of the penis. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 82.
National Cancer Institute website. Penile cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/penile/hp/penile-treatment-pdq#link/_1. Updated February 2, 2024. Accessed August 2, 2024.