5 Things You Need to Know About Penile Cancer

1. The Most Rare of Male Cancers

When it comes to rare cancers, few are rarer than penile cancer. Each year, more cases of breast cancer in men will be reported than those of penile cancer. Only one or two in every 100,000 men will get penile cancer. This is a cancer of the squamous, or thin, flat skin cells lining the penis. It's usually found in the foreskin or glans (head) of the penis, though can spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

2. Nothing Shy About Penile Cancer

The symptoms of penile cancer are apparent, making early detection of the disease simple. A sore or tender spot or small growth will appear near the tip of the penis. This may start as a change in the color of the skin of that area. Lesions may appear along the shaft of the penis. Pain may or may not be associated with these early signs of penile cancer. Bleeding or a discharge from the penis may also occur. A biopsy of the affected area will provide a diagnosis.

3. From Bad to Worse

As is true with all cancers, there are stages to the progression of penile cancer. In Stage 1, the cancer cells are seen only on the surface of the foreskin and glans of the penis. In Stage 2, deeper tissues of the shaft and glans are affected. Stage 3 penile cancer has spread to lymph nodes and the groin. The fourth and final stage finds cancer cells throughout the penis, as well as spread to and beyond the lymph nodes and groin.

4. The Who and Why of Penile Cancer

Theories as to the cause of penile cancer abound, some controversial. Early studies suggested that uncircumcised men had an increased chance of getting penile cancer than those who are circumcised, but this has long been debated. The formation of smegma, a cheesy substance that grows on the foreskin due to lack of proper hygiene, is also thought to increase the risk of getting penile cancer. A link between penile cancer and genital human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, has also been suggested.

5. Treatment Can Be From the Conventional to the Extreme

Penile cancer is highly curable when caught in the early stages. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to kill cancer cells. Surgery to remove small tumors is common, called a partial penectomy. A total penectomy may be required if there are many tumors in and on the penis that are not responding to therapy. This will lead to a urethrostomy (an opening in the groin to allow urine to pass through).