Penis Cancer, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Conditions

Penile cancer is the malignant growth of penile cells on the external skin and in the tissues of the penis.
The cancerous cells can grow and spread from the penis to the lymph nodes in the groin and eventually to other parts of the body if untreated.
Penile cancer is a rare disease in which cancerous cells appear on the penis.
Types:
a. Cancer cells that are only in the skin of the penis and have not spread to any deeper tissues are called carcinoma in situ (CIS) or penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)
b. Penile squamous cell carcinoma (90%)
c. The remaining 10% consists of adenocarcinoma, melanoma, basal cell and sarcoma.
Cause:
Poor hygiene and neglect in cleansing the part of the penis covered by the foreskin increases the risk of developing the disease.
Penile cancer is also seen more frequently in uncircumcised men.
Diagnosis is by:
A non-tender lesion that looks like a pimple or wart on penis
Fine needle aspiration of lump
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Staging of Cancer:
Stage 1
The cancer affects the surface or skin of the penis, the head of the penis or the foreskin.
But it has not spread anywhere else in the body
Stage 2
The cancer has invaded or spread deeper into the head of the penis or is affecting the shaft of the penis (the columns of erectile tissue) and may have grown into the urethra
Stage 3
Stage 3a means that the cancer is affecting the penis and a single lymph node in the groin
Stage 3b means the cancer is affecting the penis and there are cancer cells in 2 or more of the lymph nodes in the groin
Stage 4
The cancer is affecting the penis; it may affect the lymph nodes and has spread to another part of the body
Treatment
Treatment choice is dependent on the size and location of the tumor and how much it has spread.
Stage 1
Surgery may be done to remove only the malignant part of the penis only
Stage 2
Total removal of the penis
Stage 3
Amputation of penis
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy intravenous
Stage 4
Same as Stage 3

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Penile Cancer
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis and Prevention
Chapter 7 Summary
Epilogue