Penile cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the male genital system. Penile cancer develops due to the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the penis. It usually starts with skin cells and progresses inward. In some cases, blood vessels may also develop in the fatty tissue or muscles in the penis area. Penile cancer is divided into different types, depending on the region where the cancer cells begin to develop. It can be manifested by symptoms such as penile pain or color change in the penis. As it can be seen from the adulthood period, the incidence is higher over the age of 50. It is important to consult a doctor for early diagnosis in case of a situation that raises suspicion of penile cancer.
Types of Penile Cancer
There are four different types of penile cancer and the reasons for the development of these types are different from each other. After the diagnosis of penile cancer, it is necessary to determine which type of cancer has developed in the patient. In this way, correct treatment planning can be made. Types of penile cancer can be listed as follows.
- Squamous Cell or Epidermoid Carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the types of cancer that develops in skin cells. This type of cancer accounts for the vast majority of penile cancer cases. It is a cancer that starts on or under the foreskin. In rare cases, this type of cancer can occur in other parts of the penis.
- Sarcoma: Cancer types that develop in the connective tissue are called sarcoma. It is a type of cancer that develops in tissues such as blood vessels, muscle and fat, and may cause penile cancer.
- Melanoma: It is a type of cancer that develops in the cells that give color to the skin. It can start on the skin of the penis.
- Basal Cell Carcinoma: It is a type of cancer that starts in the lower layer of the skin. It is a slow-growing type of cancer and is unlikely to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Penis Cancer Symptoms
Penile cancer symptoms usually affect the skin covering the penis (foreskin) or the head or tip of the penis (glans). Revealed symptoms are observed on these tissues. The following topics are among the symptoms of penile cancer.
- Penis pain
- Penis acne
- Wound formation and growth of the wound within 4 weeks without healing
- Redness
- Penis bruising or foreskin discoloration
- Penis swelling
- Smelly discharge
- Bleeding on the penis or under the foreskin
- /li>
- Thickening of the foreskin (phimosis)
- Involuntary weight loss
- Lump formation in the groin
- Feeling of fatigue
- Abdominal pain
Penile Cancer Risk Factors
The main reasons for the development of penile cancer are still unknown today. However, there are studies showing that some conditions are risk factors and may cause penile cancer. Factors that increase the risk of penile cancer can be listed as follows:
- Having human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Being over 60 years of age
- Smoking
- Having diseases that weaken the immune system, such as HIV or AIDS
- Not being circumcised
- Fluid accumulation under the foreskin, called smegma
- Thickening of the foreskin (phimosis) in case of difficulty in cleaning the skin or fluid accumulation under the foreskin due to phimosis
- To use psoralen medication or ultraviolet light (UV) therapy for the treatment of psoriasis
Penis Diagnosis of Cancer
It is of great importance for people who observe symptoms such as a mass in the male genitalia or a swollen gland in the male genitalia to consult a doctor. With early diagnosis, successful treatment can be applied and cancer development can be prevented. Bleeding from the penis is also a suspicious situation and people are subjected to the necessary examinations. If your doctor deems it necessary, various diagnostic methods are used for the diagnosis of penile cancer. According to the data obtained from the diagnostic methods, it can be determined whether there is cancer development or not. If penile cancer is diagnosed, treatment is planned according to the stage of the cancer. Used to diagnose penile cancer The methods are as follows:
- Physical Examination: Your doctor first performs a physical examination. The condition and structure of the penis is examined. The patient's history is taken by asking questions about the observed symptoms. If your doctor suspects cancer, he will refer to more comprehensive tests.
- Biopsy: It is the process of taking a sample from the tissue affected by cancer development and examining this sample under laboratory conditions. Microscopic examinations examine whether there are cancer cells in the tissue. It is the diagnostic method used for definitive diagnosis in cancer diagnoses. If a biopsy is planned for penile cancer, a biopsy is performed by taking a sample from the skin lesion in the penis.
- Imaging Techniques such as X-rays, CT Scans, Ultrasounds and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): They are used to detect the spread of cancer cells and tumor size.
Penis Cancer Stages
If penile cancer is diagnosed, various tests are performed to see if the cancer has spread. With the results revealed, the stage and spread of the cancer can be determined. Various numbers and letters are used to represent the stage and spread of penile cancer. These symbols are as follows.
- T: Represents the size of the cancer in the penis and whether it has spread to other tissues.
- N: Indicates whether there is a spread to the surrounding lymph nodes. Indicates the state of cancerous cells in the groin or pelvic region.
- M: Indicates the spread of cancer to distant sites in the body (whether there is metastasis).
- 0: Indicates that the cancer cell is only in the upper layer of the skin. Cancer is only where it started.
- 1: It indicates that the tumor has spread to the upper layer of the skin and a lower layer of the skin. It has not spread to nearby lymph or vessels, but the size of the cancer is small.
- 2: The cancer has grown; but it has not spread.
- 3: The cancer is large and may have spread to surrounding tissues.
- 4: Cancer has spread from where it started to at least one other organ. Cancers at this stage are called metastatic. /li>
Penis Cancer Treatment
Penile cancer treatment may vary depending on the stage of the cancer. With early diagnosis and early intervention, the progression of cancer can be stopped. In advanced cases, more extensive treatments may be required. In some cases, additional treatments are applied to relieve the symptoms that develop with the disease. The following methods can be used for the treatment of penile cancer:
- Cryotherapy: A procedure is applied to freeze and destroy the cancerous tissue. By performing the procedure with a special cold liquid or device, the cancerous cells are frozen.
- Circumcision: The foreskin is removed by circumcision only if cancerous cells form in the foreskin.
- Chemotherapy: It is a treatment procedure applied to destroy cancer cells. It is aimed to destroy cancer cells with drugs taken intravenously or orally. Since it is a powerful treatment method, it can cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting or hair loss.
- Radiotherapy (Radiation Therapy): It is a treatment method that is usually applied together with chemotherapy. Cancer cells are destroyed by high-energy radiation waves. It is a powerful and effective treatment method, and in some cases, it can cause damage to the healthy tissues around the cancer formation area.
- Penectomy: It is the process of removing a certain part or all of the penis.
- Mohs Surgery: It is the process of removing the skin tissue affected by cancer in layers. It can take place under a few surgical interventions.
Read: 0
