Understanding Penile Cancer: Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment Options

In this video, we're diving into the crucial topic of penile cancer. Before we delve into the details, it's important to recognize that penile cancer is relatively rare and predominantly affects the skin of the penis and the foreskin—the skin covering the head of the penis. It's most commonly seen in men over the age of 50. However, if you have any issues with your penis, it's statistically more likely to be due to other causes such as infection or inflammation. This video aims to educate you on the potential symptoms of penile cancer, so you know when it's time to consult your doctor, as well as the causes and treatment options available.

Let's start by identifying some potential symptoms and signs of penile cancer. Most penile cancers affect the skin covering the penis, which includes the foreskin or the head, known as the glans. Common symptoms to watch out for include a growth or sore that doesn’t heal within four weeks, a rash on the penis, bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin, a smelly discharge, and thickening of the skin of the penis or foreskin, making it difficult to pull back the foreskin—a condition known as phimosis. Additionally, changes in the color of the skin of your penis or foreskin can be a warning sign.

Other symptoms may include a lump in the groin, excessive tiredness, stomach pain that doesn’t go away, or unexplained weight loss. While many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer, it's crucial to see your doctor if you experience any of them. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.

If you notice any changes in the appearance of your penis, discharge, or bleeding, or if home treatments haven't alleviated your symptoms after a few weeks, it's time to consult your doctor. Your doctor will likely ask about your symptoms, their onset, and any treatments you've tried. They will examine your penis and may request a blood test. Depending on their findings, you might be referred to a specialist for further tests.

Now that we’ve discussed potential symptoms and what to expect during a doctor's visit, let’s explore the causes and risk factors for developing penile cancer. Approximately half of all penile cancers are caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically HPV types 16 and 18. You can contract HPV through any skin-to-skin contact around the genital area, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or sharing sex toys. However, it's important to note that most people affected by HPV will not develop penile cancer.

Other risk factors include being over the age of 50, smoking, having difficulty pulling back the foreskin (phimosis), undergoing treatment for psoriasis with medicines called psoralens and an ultraviolet light source (PUVA treatment), or having a weakened immune system due to conditions like HIV.

Moving on to treatment options, the approach to treating penile cancer varies based on the stage and type of cancer, its location, whether it has spread, and the patient’s age and overall health. Early-stage penile cancer can often be treated with non-surgical methods such as chemotherapy creams (like 5-fluorouracil), laser therapy, or cryotherapy, which freezes the cancer cells. Surgical options for early cancer might include removing the affected area of the penis or circumcision.

For more advanced penile cancer, treatment might involve surgery to remove the cancer and surrounding tissue, which could include the head of the penis, parts or all of the penis, and sometimes lymph nodes to reduce the risk of recurrence. Recovery from these surgeries can be extensive and may affect the penis's appearance and function. It's essential to discuss these aspects with your surgeon before proceeding. Reconstructive surgery might be an option if significant removal is necessary.

Additionally, chemotherapy might be used alone or in conjunction with radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy), either before surgery to shrink the cancer or after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells. Radiotherapy, which uses high-energy radiation, can be an alternative to surgery or used post-surgery if there's a risk of remaining cancer cells or to treat lymph nodes in the pelvis if there's a high likelihood of recurrence.

Finally, here are my top five tips for reducing your risk of penile cancer:

1. Protect yourself from HPV by getting the HPV vaccination if possible.
2. Use condoms during any kind of sex to lower your chances of contracting HPV.
3. If you smoke, try to quit.
4. Consider circumcision if you have phimosis, which makes it hard to pull back and clean the penis.
5. Regularly and thoroughly clean your penis by pulling back the foreskin and washing underneath it.

That brings us to the end of this discussion. Please check out the description box for more useful resources on this topic. Leave any questions in the comment section, and don't forget to explore the other videos on the channel. If you're looking to scale your medical brand on YouTube or interested in sponsoring our videos with your products, feel free to book a consultation. Thanks for reading, and until next time!