Penile Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

What is Penile Cancer?

Penile cancer is referred to as the cancer of the penis or squamous cell carcinoma in Medical terms. This is caused when the cells that grow in the man’s penis go out of control. It begins from the growth of the cells in the skin and then proceeds inside. Penile cancer is rarely found and can be rarely treated, But if you find it in an early stage then it can be cured. Penile cancer is of different Penile Cancer types such as,

Epidermoid Carcinoma: 95% of the man suffering from penile cancer have this type of penile cancer. This majorly starts from your foreskin and later on can be visible in other parts as well.

Melanoma: The cell that gives color to your skin is responsible for this type of penile cancer.

Sarcoma: This type of penile cancer is caused in the tissues such as fat, blood vessels, and muscle.

Basal Cell Carcinoma: This type of cancer grows slowly deep in your skin and is not likely to spread in other body areas.

 Penile Cancer Symptoms

If penile cancer is found in the earlier stage, it becomes beneficial for the person. This is because penile cancer can only be successfully treated in its early stages. And if it is diagnosed lately can get worse and even the rate of successful treatment declines. Advanced penile cancer is difficult to treat and is more complicated to figure out the treatment. This is why you must know the symptoms of penile cancer to detect it early.

You can spot the symptoms whenever you touch your penis to urinate. The risk of penile cancer is more in men who are not circumcised. This is why penile lesion is a must-lookout thing for every man to lower the risk. If you see any of the following changes in your foreskin, you need to immediately visit your health consultant,

• Lump in the penis
• Swelling in the area around penis or injuries of penile region.
• Rash around penis region that seems reddish and velvety
• Small and crusty bumps in the penis
• Smelly discharge that secrets under the foreskin
• A Sore in the penis that might be bleeding
• Any area around penis getting thicker or changed in color.
• Bluish- brown growth in penis

Other Symptoms

Most of the symptoms mentioned over here can also be caused due to an allergic reaction, or bacterial infection. If this is the case then the symptoms will respond to all the ointments and creams for antibacterial and antifungal reactions. But if no responses are visible or the growth returns then that is because of penile cancer.

In many cases, penile cancer is detected in a very later stage because of ignorance and also because patients are embarrassed to talk about their genitals. Some people also are afraid of surgery on the penis. But it is very crucial to care about your genitals and see a doctor as soon as you find these symptoms.

Penile Cancer is frequently neglected till it gets worse. Patients feel ashamed to discuss about their genital problems. Or, they fear genital treatment and surgeries. That’s why its important to take care of your penis healthy to save it from problem. However if you see any of the above mentioned signs go visit nearest health care provider for further help.

Causes and Risk Factors of Penile Cancer

The major causes and risk factors involved in Penile Cancer are as follows:

• Being over 60 years in age is a possible risk factor.
• HPV or Human Papillomavirus is the leading cause.
• Smoking and access alcohol consumption.
• Due to weak immune system caused by HIV or AIDS
• Have a history of psoriasis treatment that involves drug psoralen and UV light.
• Due to phimosis in which the foreskin tightens and becomes tough. It can further cause fluid buildup.
• Fluid buildup can get accumulated under the foreskin and can lead cancer growth more likely.
• Foreskin infection like balanitis and posthitis can lead you towards penile cancer if left untreated

Penile Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis

At the very first stage of your treatment, you need to take several physical exams and discuss your symptoms with your doctor. You might also require to take tests such as,

Imaging test: You need to take imaging tests such as X-rays, Ultrasounds, magnetic resonance Imaging, and CT scans. These imaging tests are helpful in identifying tumors or other cancer signs.

Biopsy: A small sample of tissue from your penis lesion is taken for a lab test where the test is done to detect the cancer cells.

If you are detected with early-stage cancer, then the treatments that you need to go through are,

• You will get a cream for your skin as the part of medication.
• The cancerous tissues can be destroyed or freezed using a device or an extremely cold liquid, in the process called Cryotherapy.
• If you have the cancer only in your foreskin then you need to remove the foreskin through a surgery called circumcision.
• The cancer can also be destroyed by using laser technique in which the cancer containing parts are cut using laser.
• The next effective method is to remove the layer wise later affected skin removal until the healthy skin is find which is known as Mohs surgery.

In this case, if the cancer is spreading further then the doctor needs to perform surgery to remove the lymph nodes if the cancer is spread up to the groins. Radiation or chemotherapy are also useful to remove the entire cancer cells. In the severe cases where cancer is spread and becomes risky, penectomy is performed where some or all of the penis is removed.

After Treatment

After the treatment, you need to be in touch with your doctor and pay frequent visits. You should also discuss the new symptoms so that your doctor can help you out with further treatments. The treatment might also have some side effects. So, you need to take proper care after the treatment.

Prevention

In most cases, you can not prevent cancer but still, you can lower the risk by the following steps,

• Consider doing the circumcision because in this way you can keep the area around foreskin clean.
• In case you have foreskin, clean it regularly with care.
• Do not use cigarettes or tobacco.
• Practice safe sex to avoid Sexually transmitted diseases.

Therefore, penis cancer is a severe medical condition that can be even life-threatening in the later stages. So, make sure to observe your penis for any symptoms and clean it regularly to avoid the risk. In case any symptoms are visible, do not feel ashamed to discuss them with your health expert or the doctor.

Bottom Line

Suffering from penile cancer may be painful for patient and a immediate checkup and consultancy is required for further treatment. you can connect with ohman for online consultancy and guidance on your treatment. Ohman is online platform for men’s health that provide a complete guidance on Men sexual health. you can easily get a online consultancy along with a online store that provides FDA approved best medicine for premature ejaculation,  Medicines for erectile dysfunction & best penis enlargement medicine in India.

FAQs

Q. Can Penile cancer be transmitted?

Ans: Although penile cancer is not transmissible, recent studies show that you can have it if your partner has HPV. So, you must consider safe sex as a better prevention strategy.

Q. Won’t I be able to stand to empty my bladder after having penis surgery?

Ans: In the surgery of the initial level of cancer won’t affect your ability to stand while urinating. But while having surgeries of advanced cancer stages, you might have to sit while urinating.

Q. Will the treatment of Penile cancer affect my ability to have sex?

Ans: The minimal surgery of penile cancer at an early stage won’t affect your ability to have sex but in extensive cases, it might.

Q. Is it compulsory to have circumcised soon after birth to prevent penile cancer.

Ans: This can be a matter of debate. But still, the male who is circumcised at birth has the lowest risk of having cancer. Still the parents can discuss this with the doctors.