Penile cancer is the term used to describe tumor diseases that occur on penis occur. Most of these are the skin Acorn or the foreskin affected. If the tumor remains untreated, it will grow from the skin of the penis to deeper structures, so that the erectile tissue and urethra can also be affected by the cancer.
With average 800 new cases per year penile cancer is one of the rare diseases and in most cases it is men beyond the age of sixty affected by it. Penile cancer can Metastases settle, which mostly enter the Lymph nodes be carried away by the pelvis or the groin. Sometimes this type of cancer metastasizes to you through the blood bone or the Lungs.
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Although the causes of penile cancer are not yet fully understood, an increased incidence of the disease can be associated with various risk factors.
As with most cancers, that plays Age play a crucial role in the development of penile cancer. This also correlates Smoke with the disease.
Another risk factor is the presence of Smegma. This is the so called Foreskin sebumwhich forms under the foreskin when there is poor hygiene. Smegma formation is caused by narrowing of the foreskin (Phimosis), since the narrowed foreskin makes it difficult to push it back completely, making adequate intimate hygiene more difficult.
Penile cancer is also favored by infections with HPV (human papillomavirus). This virus is sexually transmitted and is a crucial risk factor for the development of cervical cancer in women. HPV can lead to genital warts (condylomas) in both sexes.
$config[ads_text2] not foundA not insignificant factor in the etiology of penile cancer is chronic inflammation of the glans penis or foreskin.
Read more about this under Are genital warts contagious?
Penile cancer usually only becomes symptomatic very late, as it grows very slowly and is rarely associated with pain in the beginning. The first indications of the disease are in the most common cases Changes in the skin of the penis. These can appear in the form of hardening, swelling or nodules. The skin abnormalities sometimes also manifest as easily bleeding Erosion that heals poorly or not at all.
One of the possible side effects, which usually only appear at an advanced stage of the disease, is one discharge from the urethra. This can be bad odor stand out or appear bloody.
If penile cancer has progressed so far that lymph node metastases have occurred, these can take the form of coarse and hardened inguinal lymph nodes be palpated or become symptomatic of possible lymphatic congestion. Here, the lymph drainage from the leg is disturbed, so that the affected leg swells up thick.
In addition to the medical history and physical examination, the Sampling (biopsy) the suspicious skin changes play an important role. This is examined histologically for abnormal cells. If the suspected diagnosis of penile cancer is confirmed on the basis of the histology, further diagnostics must be carried out to classify the tumor into a certain stage (Staging), as the treatment of the disease depends on the stage.
Here is the Tumor size of interest that can be verified by imaging tests such as MRI. You can often also see whether distant metastases are already present. Examination methods such as ultrasound or computed tomography are also used.
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$config[ads_text3] not foundIn order to be able to cure penile cancer completely, it is necessary to completely remove all tumor cells. However, this is usually only possible in such low stages of penile cancer in which the tumor is limited to the penis. In situations with distant metastases, treatment must be different than in the case of a local finding.
If there is no metastasis, the desired therapy of choice is the one complete surgical removal of the tumor. The skin tumor is resected with a safety margin, which should ensure that no more cancer cells remain in the body. If this succeeds and no tumor cells can be seen on the edge of the removed tissue in the histological examination, one speaks of one R0 resectionthat with a very good prognosis associated with the disease.
In early disease stages the tumor is often to operate well, since it mostly only affects the glans or the foreskin, which can be resected relatively easily and therefore there are usually no serious restrictions on the quality of life. If the penile cancer has progressed so far that a complete elimination of all cancer cells cannot be expected by removing the suspicious skin lesion, a complete amputation of the penis become necessary.
Also lie Metastases in other organs, the sole operation is no longer effective; instead, an attempt is made to remove the tumor cells distributed in the body using a chemotherapy to destroy.
Any surgery or chemotherapy that has been overcome is followed by close monitoring to determine whether it has recurred (Relapse) to recognize and treat penile cancer early.
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In summary, it can be stated that penile cancer, which almost always occurs as a skin tumor on the penis, has an excellent prognosis in the early stages of the disease. Early cancer detection therefore plays a major role.
The prognosis of penile cancer is very good if diagnosed earlyso that 90% of those affected can be cured. Attempts are also made to keep the quality of life of those affected, in the form of unchanged possible sexuality, high by performing the surgical procedures, if possible, minimally invasive.
Having penile cancer diagnosed and treated is one close control necessary to recognize a recurrence of cancer in time. Depending on the personal risk profile, which depends on the stage of cancer and the age of the patient, follow-up examinations every three to six months are recommended for a period of five years.
