Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Penile cancer is a rare type of cancer that occurs when penile skin cells or nearby tissue develop abnormally or uncontrollably. Check out a full explanation of the symptoms, causes, and treatment of this disease in full in the following review.

Penis Cancer Symptoms

Penile cancer can develop anywhere around the penis, but is more common in the foreskin (the skin covering the glans penis) or the tip of the penis (glans). Therefore, the symptoms of this cancer can appear in the affected location.

The following are characteristics of penile cancer that are commonly encountered, including:

• Sores or lumps on the penis that don’t heal after 4 weeks.
• Odorous discharge.
• Rash.
• Bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin.
• Thickening of the skin of the penis or foreskin.
• Changes in the color of the skin of the penis or foreskin.

In addition, several other symptoms may also be felt, such as:

• There is a lump in the groin.
• Fatigue.
• Stomach ache.
• Bone pain.
• Weight loss

When is the Right Time for a Doctor?

Immediately consult a doctor if you have experienced some of the symptoms mentioned above. In addition, the complaints that are felt can indicate other health problems. Therefore, examinations are carried out early in order to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Also Read: 7 causes of pus coming out of the penis that should be watched out for

Causes of Penis Cancer

Until now the cause of penile cancer is not known with certainty. However, there are certain risk factors that can increase the chance of developing this disease, including:

1. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

If you carry HPV, you are at risk for penile cancer. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts.

You can catch this virus in various ways, including:

• Skin-to-skin contact in the genital area.
• Vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
• Sharing sex toys or tools.

2. Age

This type of cancer rarely affects men under the age of 40 and is most common in men over 50.

3. Smoking

The chemicals found in cigarettes can damage the cells in the penis. This will ultimately increase the risk of penile cancer.

4. Suffering from Phimosis

Phimosis is a condition when the foreskin attaches to the head of the penis. When the foreskin of the penis is difficult to retract, you most likely will suffer from disease infections such as balanitis.

It is important to note, recurrent infections of the penis are often associated with a higher risk of developing some types of penile cancer.

5. Uncircumcised

Not being circumcised can increase the risk of penile cancer. If urine gets trapped in the foreskin and is not cleaned properly, Eventually the penis will get infected. In the end, koThis condition can contribute to the growth of cancer cells.

6. Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis sufferers who undergo treatment in the form of a combination of drugs and ultraviolet light therapy are more at risk of developing penile cancer.

7. Weak immune system

A weak immune system can put the body more at risk for infections, including cancer.

Penis Cancer Diagnosis

The first step the doctor takes is to carry out a physical examination, ask about symptoms of penile cancer and suggest other tests such as:

1. Biopsy

The doctor will take a small sample of tissue from a skin lesion on the penis. Lab tests will be done to check for cancer cells.

2. Imaging Test

Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test is useful to see tumors in the body and see signs of cancer spread.

3. Cystoscopy

If the biopsy results show signs of cancer, the doctor may want to perform a cystoscopy to see if the cancer has spread.

Cystoscopy is a procedure that involves the use of an instrument called a cystoscope. A cystoscope is a thin tube with a small camera and light at the end.

Also Read: 10 Most Common Types of Cancer in Men

Types of Penile Cancer

This cancer is divided into several types based on the origin of the cancer cells, including:

• Melanoma: This type of penile cancer first appears in skin cells. Melanoma can spread more quickly so it is considered more dangerous than squamous cell carcinoma.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of cancer is more common. Cancer cells can originate from any part of the penis, but most often appear on the foreskin of uncircumcised men. Unlike melanoma, this cancer grows and develops more slowly.
• Sarcoma: This type of cancer is rare, but spreads very quickly. In addition, sarcomas generally appear in the connective tissue of the penis, such as fat, muscle and blood vessels.
• Basal cell carcinoma: This type of cancer arises from the deepest layers of the skin. This cancer grows slowly and rarely spreads to other organs.
• Adenocarcinoma: This cancer is rare and can first appear in the glans cells of the penis.

Penile Cancer Stage

Cancer stage describes how far the cancer has spread. Based on the results of diagnostic tests, the doctor can determine the stage of the cancer. This condition will help to determine the best treatment plan.

The following are the stages of penile cancer:

1.Stage 0

• Cancer is only in the top layer of the skin.
• The cancer has not spread to glands, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

2. Stage I

• The cancer has spread to the connective tissue just under the skin.
• The cancer has not spread to glands, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

3. Stage II

• The cancer has spread to the connective tissue under the skin and to the lymph vessels, blood vessels/cells, or the cancer has spread to the erectile tissue or urethra.
• The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

4. Stage IIIA

• Cancer has spread to the connective tissue under the skin and to lymph vessels or blood vessels/cells, or the cancer has spread to erectile tissue or the urethra.
• The cancer has spread to one or two lymph nodes in the groin.
• The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

4. Stage IIIB

• Cancer has spread to the connective tissue under the skin and into lymph vessels or blood vessels or cells that look very different from normal cells, or the cancer has spread to erectile tissue or the urethra.
• The cancer has spread to several lymph nodes in the groin.
• The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

5. Stage IV

Penile cancer has spread to nearby areas, such as the pubic bone and scrotum. In fact, cancer can also spread to other areas of the body.

Penile Cancer Treatment

If you have detected symptoms of penile cancer, an examination should be done immediately. Early treatment can help prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.

Basically, the type of treatment depends on various factors, such as:

• Size and type of cancer suffered.
• Cancer location.
• Whether the cancer has spread or not.
• Age.
• General health condition.

When a doctor diagnoses penile cancer in its early stages, treatment may involve one or more of the following, including:

• Laser therapy: This procedure is used to kill cancer cells using heat.
• Medicinal cream: Topical medication that contains imiquimod And fluorouracil possibility is given.
• Cryotherapy: This is done to freeze and kill cancer cells using cold temperatures.
• Tumor surgery: This procedure is performed to remove a tumor from the penis.
• Circumcision: This action will be performed in cases of cancer located in the foreskin.
• Mohs surgery: Removal of layers of affected skin down to healthy tissue.
• Radiation Therapy: This procedure is performed to destroy cancer cells using high-radiation rays.
• Chemotherapy: This treatment aims to kill cancer cells.

If the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, the doctor can take several management measures, such as:

• Lymphadenectomy: Procedure to remove lymph nodes in the groin if the cancer has spread to the area.
• Penectomy: Surgery to remove part or all of the penis.

Also Read: Men Must Know, These are 7 Benefits of Vitamin E for the Penis

Penis Cancer Complications

If this condition is not handled properly, it can trigger a number of complications, including:

• Spread of cancer cells to other organs.
• Damage to the penis.

On the other hand, treatment can also cause a number of complications, such as:

• Pain in the penis.
• Urethral fistula or condition when a channel in the urethra is formed.
• Urethral stricture or condition when there is adhesion to the urethra.
• The opening of the penis narrows.

Penile Cancer Prevention

Although difficult to prevent, there are several actions you can take to reduce the risk of this disease, including:

• Stop smoking.
• Keep the penis clean to prevent bacterial and viral infections.
• Clean under the foreskin well.
• Consider getting circumcised.
• Use a condom when going to have sex.
• Avoid having multiple sexual partners.
• Get the HPV vaccination.

For those of you who live in Jakarta and want to get the HPV vaccine, you can visit the pharmacy my farm which is in Kelapa Gading Square. Click here for more information.

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