Patient Resources

Genitalia (Penile) Cancer

 

 

Overview

Cancer of the male genitalia affects the penis (penile cancer). It is a very rare cancer in the United States. In 2007, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 1,300 men will be diagnosed with cancer of the male genitalia. This type of cancer develops from several different types of cells, with about 95 percent of penile cancers originating from flat, scale-like skin cells called squamous cells. These tumors grow slowly and can usually be cured when detected in the early stages. Squamous cell penile cancer can develop anywhere on the penis, but most often occurs on the foreskin (in men who have not been circumcised) or on the glans. Other types of penile cancer include melanoma (a dangerous type of skin cancer), basal cell carcinoma (which rarely spreads), and cancers that develop from blood vessels, smooth muscles, and other connective tissue cells in the penis.

The Cancer Center offers unique and innovative diagnostic and treatment services for men with cancers of the genitalia:

  • board-certified urologists, dermatologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists who are highly skilled in their specialties
  • state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and imaging studies
  • clinical trials to investigate new medications and treatment methods
  • a full range of support services

 

Risk Factors

Because penile cancer has been found to contain carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types, unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners is a risk factor for penile cancer. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, age (80 percent of all penile cancers occur in men over age 50), and the treatment of psoriasis with a medication called psorlen and exposure to ultraviolet light.
 
 

Symptoms

Symptoms of penile cancer include a painless ulcer or growth or a growth that changes with color, thickens, or bleeds. Swollen lymph nodes are experienced by those with advanced penile cancer.
 
 

Risk Factors

There are several types of surgery to treat penile cancer:
  • simple removal of the tumor and surrounding skin
  • electrodessication and curettage (scraping with an instrument and treating with an electrical current)
  • cryosurgery (using liquid argon to freeze and kill abnormal cells)
  • Mohs surgery (a highly specialized treatment to remove layers of skin, which preserves a better appearance and function)
  • laser surgery using beams of light to vaporize cancer cells
  • circumcision, if the cancer is limited to the foreskin
  • penectomy to remove all or part of the penis

Radiation therapy, using external beam therapy or brachytherapy (seed implantation), may be integrated into your treatment plan, as well as chemotherapy using a topical (on the skin) or systemic (throughout the body) medication.