Penile cancer: Causes and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

 What Exactly Is Penile Cancer?

Penile cancer, often known as cancer of the penis, occurs when cells grow uncontrollably on or in a man's penis. It frequently begins in skin cells and can spread throughout the body.

It's unusual. However, it is treatable, especially if discovered early on.

Penile cancer is uncommon in the United States. However, if you are in danger, detecting it early is crucial. The information provided here should assist you in detecting this tumor before it becomes life-threatening.

Penile cancer comes in a variety of forms, including:

• Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as epidermoid carcinoma, is a kind of skin cancer. This accounts for 95% of all incidences of penile cancer. It normally begins on or behind your foreskin, although it can also appear on other areas of your penis.
• Sarcoma. These malignancies develop in tissues such as blood vessels, muscle, and fat.
• Melanoma. This is a kind of cancer that begins in the cells that give your skin its pigment.
• Cancer of the basal cell. These cancers begin deep within your skin. They develop slowly and are unlikely to spread to other parts of your body.

How does the Penis normally function?

The penis' primary functions are to transport urine from the body and sperm into the woman's vagina. Inside the penis, there are three tubes. The urethra is one of them. It is hollow and transports pee from the bladder to the outside via the penis. The corpora cavernosa refers to the other two tubes. These are soft, spongy tubes that fill with blood during an erection to stiffen the penis. The tunica albuginea is a thick fibrous sheath that wraps around the three tubes. The rigidity of the penis during intercourse makes it difficult to push into the woman's vagina. The urethra then serves as a conduit for the passage of sperm into the vagina.

Penile cancer symptoms

The following symptoms can be caused by penile cancer, although they can also be caused by other medical issues. The sooner penile cancer is detected, the better. If it is discovered early, there is a good chance of successful treatment and cure. The condition might worsen if the diagnosis is delayed. More advanced cancer treatment may be less effective and more disfiguring.

Because you see and touch your penis when you urinate, you can aid in the early detection of the condition. Men who are not circumcised are at a higher risk of developing penile cancer. Every male, however, should be on the watch for penile lesions.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor right once.

• Your penis is bleeding.

Bleeding, even from behind your foreskin, might be an indication of malignancy.

• You have a rash on your penis.

You may notice a rash developing on your penis. It is critical to be aware of what is usual for you and to notify your doctor of any changes.

• Your penis has a growth or a sore.

A growth or sore on your penis that does not heal within four weeks might be a sign of penile cancer. It may resemble a wart, ulcer, or blister and may or may not be uncomfortable. It is critical to understand what is typical for you.

Inform your doctor of any changes.

• The color of your penis or foreskin has changed.

Changes in the color of your penis or foreskin may occur. It is critical to be aware of what is usual for you and to notify your doctor of any changes.

Other, less common symptoms

These symptoms may be indicative of more advanced cancer:

1. a lump in the groin
2. feeling tired
3. abdominal (tummy) pain
4. pain in the bones
5. loss of weight

Causes of Penile cancer

Body fluids that become trapped in the foreskin are considered to be the source of penile tumors. They can cause cancer if they are not wiped away on a regular basis. Penile cancer is more common in older men and smokers. Penile cancer can develop as a result of diseases such as AIDS.

The human papillomavirus is another probable reason (HPV). HPV is a virus that is transmitted through sex. Many people with penile cancer have antibodies to HPV-16. HPV is also known to play a role in cervical cancer. Please see our Sexually Transmitted Disease article for additional details.

Men who practice proper genital hygiene and are circumcised are far less likely to get penile cancer.

Diagnosis

A biopsy is used to diagnose penile cancer. This is when a tiny sample of tissue from the penis is taken and examined under a microscope. The cells will be "staged" if they resemble cancer cells. The TNM staging system is the most often utilized. T denotes the major (main) tumor (how far it has grown within the penis or nearby organs). N denotes spread to neighboring lymph nodes (bean-sized groups of immune system cells). M stands for metastasis (the spread of cancer to other organs).

Cells are also assigned a "grade." This is a metric for how aberrant the cells seem. A grade is frequently a number ranging from 1 to 4. The greater the number, the more aberrant the cells appear to be. Higher-grade malignancies develop and spread faster than lower-grade tumors.

Other tests will be performed if your doctor feels cancer has spread to neighboring lymph nodes. A lymph node biopsy will aid in determining the stage and grade of the malignancy. If it is suspected that cancer has spread to other regions of the body, imaging tests (such as a CT scan or MRI) will be performed.

If testing reveals cancer, immediate treatment and continuous follow-up are critical.

Treatment of Penile cancer

If penile cancer is detected early, it can be treated successfully and safely. If the tumor is on the skin's surface, it can be treated using a skin lotion. There aren't any adverse effects to this cream. External beam radiation treatment is also used to treat minor lesions.

If the lesion is bigger but still the size of a pea, a modest local excision, sometimes known as "Moh's surgery," may be performed. This is a form of surgery in which aberrant tissue layers are shaved away until normal tissue is reached. Both of these treatments should leave the penis looking and functioning normally. However, cautious follow-up is required to rule out any early recurrence. Cancer is unlikely to have progressed to the lymph nodes in the case of minor lesions. As a result, removing the lymph nodes is not always essential.

More tissue must be removed from bigger lesions. Your surgeon will also consider removing or draining groin lymph nodes. It is possible that a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy will be required. In more severe cases of cancer, the entire penis may need to be removed.

Early detection is critical. It not only assures better outcomes but also provides additional therapy possibilities.