What is penile cancer, how does it affect the penis and what are the signs and symptoms of the disease?
Here's the lowdown on what you need to know about penile cancer
WITH just over 600 cases of penile cancer recorded in the UK since 2015, it is one of the rarest forms of the disease.
From signs and symptoms to possible risk factors, here's what you need to know about penile cancer.
What is penile cancer?
, penile cancer is a rare type of cancer that occurs on the skin of the penis or within the penis and most commonly affects men over the age of 50.
Cancer Research UK has said that since 2015, just 637 new cases of penile cancer have been recorded with 134 fatalities since 2016.
There are several types of penile cancer, depending on the type of cell the cancer developed from.
The most common types include:
- Squamous cell penile cancer – this accounts for more than 90% of cases and starts in the cells that cover the surface of the penis
- Carcinoma in situ (CIS) – a particular type of squamous cell cancer where only the cells in the skin of the penis are affected and it hasn't spread any deeper
- Adenocarcinoma – cancer that starts in the glandular cells of the penis that produce sweat
- Melanoma of the penis – this is where the cancer develops in the skin cells that give the skin its colour
How does it affect the penis?
Penile cancer's most immediate effect on the body is the disfigurement of the skin on the penis, .
If left untreated, the cancer can spread to the urethra, the tube in the middle of the penis that carries urine and semen, or the prostate, the gland between the testicles and anus.
If the cancer progresses to this stage, other symptoms may present themselves.
Untreated penile cancer may also spread to more distant organs, causing a more serious series of symptoms and complications, including death.
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?
Abnormalities or signs of penile cancer, include a growth or sore on the penis that doesn't heal within four weeks, bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin or a foul-smelling discharge.
Other symptoms include a thickening of the skin of the penis or foreskin that makes it difficult to draw back the foreskin, a change in the colour of the skin of the penis or foreskin or a rash on the penis.
If you experience these symptoms, it's important to see your GP as soon as possible.
While it's unlikely they'll be caused by penile cancer, the NHS says they need to be investigated.
If your GP suspects penile cancer, they may refer you to a urology specialist who will ask about your symptoms and may also check for any physical signs of penile cancer.
A blood test may be carried out to check your general health and number of blood cells.
To confirm a diagnosis of penile cancer, you may need to have a biopsy, where a small tissue sample will be removed so it can be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells.
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What causes penile cancer?
The exact cause of penile cancer isn't known, but certain risk factors can increase your chances of getting it, including carrying the human papilloma virus, age, smoking and having phimosis.
Phimosis is when the foreskin is difficult to retract so the chances of developing infections like balanitis increase and according to the NHS, repeated infections are linked to a higher risk of developing some types of penile cancer as they can weaken your immune system.
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