Penile cancer is a rare tumor that can appear on the organ or only on the skin that covers it, causing changes in the color and texture of the skin, as well as the appearance of nodules or wounds that take a long time to disappear.
To identify this type of cancer it is very important to be aware of symptoms such as:
- Appearance of a reddish wound that does not heal; Lump on the penis, glans or foreskin; Thicker penis skin or changes in color; Smelly discharge from the urethra; Bleeding from the penis; Swelling of the tip of the penis; Pain and swelling in the groin waters.
However, some of these symptoms can also indicate sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, syphilis or gonorrhea. Therefore, it is best to consult a urologist to carry out the necessary diagnostic tests, confirm the cause and initiate appropriate treatment.
See other symptoms that may indicate a sexually transmitted disease.
Penile cancer is more frequent in the elderly over 60 years of age, but it can also happen in young people, especially in men who smoke, who have poor hygiene in the intimate area or who have intimate contact without a condom, for example.
Penile cancer can be cured, however surgery may be necessary to remove the affected tissues and, therefore, the larger the tumor, the greater the chances of the man being able to have erectile dysfunction. However, there are treatments, such as penile prosthesis, that help the patient to recover from erectile dysfunction.
How the treatment is done
Treatment must be guided by an oncologist or a urologist and is usually started with surgery to remove as much of the affected tissue as possible, then being supplemented with chemotherapy or radiation to eliminate the remaining tumor cells.
Depending on the size and degree of development of the cancer, the man may have complications after the surgery, such as erectile dysfunction, because the more tissue it is necessary to remove, the greater the risk of affecting the muscles necessary for the erection of the penis. However, in these cases, the doctor may recommend the use of a penile prosthesis that allows the man to have and maintain an erection during intimate contact. Learn more about the penile prosthesis and how it works.
In the most severe cases, when the tumor is in a very advanced stage, the doctor may recommend emasculation, which consists of the total removal of the entire sexual organ and testicles. For these cases, a new technique is being developed to perform the penis transplant, in order to restore all sexual function.
How Penis Transplants Work
This type of treatment is being studied as a way to restore the urinary and sexual capacity of patients who had to remove the entire penis during cancer treatment. This surgery is not yet available and during the tests, which have already been done, it took about 15 hours to connect all the blood vessels and nerves.
The transplanted organ must be from a donor with similar structural characteristics to reduce the risk of infections, hemorrhage and rejection. However, it is not yet possible to predict the success of the transplant in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which can negatively affect the patient's psychological health.
How to prevent the appearance of cancer
To prevent penile cancer it is important to take some precautions such as:
- Make a daily hygiene of the penis, especially under the foreskin; Use a condom during intimate contact; No smoking.
Although there is no specific cause for the development of cancer in the penis, these precautions help to avoid some risk factors, such as poor hygiene or HPV infection, for example.
