Many people are totally surprised that there is actually cancer of the penis. At one time not so very long ago just the “C” word not only scared people silly but many time also meant the individual was terminally ill. Every year, every month, every day there are new products and procedures that cure cancer or take it in to total remission. Many cancers are no longer death sentences. Cancer of the penis does not have to be one, either. In the United Kingdom, fewer than 500 men are diagnosed with penile cancer every year.
Penis cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the penis. Sometimes, growths can develop on the penis that are abnormal but are not cancers (they are benign). These lesions can look like warts or irritated patches of skin. Like penile cancer, they are most often found on the glans or on the foreskin, but they can also occur along the shaft of the penis.
Condylomas are wart-like growths that look like tiny cauliflowers. Some are so small that they can only be seen with a magnifying lens. Others may be as large as an inch or more across. Condylomas are caused by infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) and are most often non-cancerous.
In Bowenoid papulosis dysplastic (abnormal) cells are seen only in the surface layer of the penile skin. This condition tends to occur in younger men and is seen as small, reddish, pimple-like patches on the shaft of the penis. Bowenoid papulosis can be mistaken for early-stage cancer called carcinoma in situ (CIS), but most doctors agree it is not cancer or a pre-cancerous condition.
Each tissue in the penis contains several types of cells. Different types of penile cancer (cancer of the penis) can develop in each kind of cell. The differences are important because they determine the seriousness of the cancer and the type of treatment needed. Almost all penile cancers start in skin cells of the penis.
About 95% of penile cancers develop from flat skin cells called squamous cells. Squamous cell cancers can develop anywhere on the penis. Most of these cancers are found on the foreskin (in men who have not been circumcised) or on the glans. These tumors tend to grow slowly. If they are found at an early stage, these tumors can usually be cured.
Verrucous carcinoma is an uncommon form of squamous cell cancer that can occur in the skin in many areas. A verrucous carcinoma growing on the penis is also known as Buschke-Lowenstein tumor. This cancer looks a lot like a large benign genital wart. These cancers tend to grow slowly but can sometimes get very large. They can grow deep into surrounding tissue, but they rarely spread to other parts of the body.
Carcinoma in situ (CIS) is the earliest stage of squamous cell cancer of the penis. In this stage the cancer cells are only found in the top layers of skin. They have not yet grown into the deeper tissues of the penis.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in melanocytes, the cells that make the brownish color in the skin that helps protect it from the sun. These cancers tend to grow and spread quickly and are more dangerous than other types of skin cancer. Melanomas are most often found in sun-exposed skin, but they rarely occur in other areas. Less than 2% of penile cancers are melanomas.
Basal cell cancer is another type of skin cancer that can develop on the penis. It makes up less than 2% of penile cancers. This type of cancer is slow-growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
Adenocarcinoma (Paget disease of the penis) is a very rare type of penile cancer can develop from sweat glands in the skin of the penis. It can be very hard to tell apart from carcinoma in situ of the penis. At first, the cancer cells spread within the skin. Later on, these cells can grow into the tissues under the skin and then spread to lymph nodes.
Risk factors for developing penis cancer include human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, not being circumcised, being age 60 or older, phimosis, poor hygiene, many sexual partners and tobacco use. Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer.
HIV-positive men have eight-fold increased risk of developing penile cancer than HIV-negative men. About half of men with penile cancer also have genital warts, which are caused by HPV.
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Today research has shown that about half of all penis cancer is caused by HPV infection. Circumcision may help prevent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a known cause of cervical cancer in women. Men who were not circumcised at birth may have a higher risk of developing penile cancer.
Signs and symptoms of penile cancer include sores, redness, irritation, discharge, bleeding, or a lump on the penis.
There are several treatment options for penile cancer, depending on staging. They include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy. The most common treatment is one of five types of surgery:
Radiation therapy is usually used along with surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. With earlier stages of penile cancer, a combination of topical chemotherapy and less invasive surgery may be used. More advanced stages of penile cancer usually require a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy
