Penis Cancer: Your Worst Nightmare?

It's a relatively rare disease, but one that cannot help but make you sit up and take notice when you learn about it: penis cancer.

Penis cancer starts on the skin cells on the outside of the penis and works its way to the inside. Unfortunately, doctors do not know what causes it. We do know that it is more common in men over the age of 60, in smokers, and in those with a weakened immune system. There is some research that speculates that men who are exposed to certain strains of HPV (human papillomavirus) may be more likely to contract the disease.

The most common warning signs for penile cancer are changes in the penis skin, which can appear on the foreskin of uncircumcised men, on the penis tip, or upon the shaft. Other symptoms may include:

·         Changes in thickness or color of skin on the penis

·         A lump on the penis

·         A rash or small bumps on it

·         Bluish-brown growths on the penis

·         Smelly discharge underneath the foreskin

·         A sore on the penis, which may be bleeding

·         Swelling at the end of the penis

·         Lumps under the skin in the groin area

These symptoms are also not uncommon in men with just an infection or an allergic reaction, but if you experience any of them you should absolutely see your doctor.

Your doctor will likely have a biopsy of the affected skin cells performed to determine if they are cancerous. He may also perform what is called a “fine needle aspiration,” in which a very thin needle is inserted into lymph nodes near the affected area to get fluid from them, and have this lab-tested as well.

If you are fortunate enough to have detected penis cancer in its early stages, there are a number of treatments open to you. Lasers can be deployed to destroy the cancerous tissue, or doctors can remove one layer of skin at a time until they reach a healthy layer (a procedure known as Mohs surgery). Cryotherapy, in which extreme cold is used to destroy the cancerous tissue, is another option.

Later-stage penis cancer treatment will likely involve chemotherapy and/or radiation. In extreme cases, a penectomy may be dictated.