What Every Man Needs to Know About Penile Cancer

Many men have heard of prostate cancer but are unfamiliar with penile cancer. However, it is important to be aware that penis cancer is very real, and can affect any man. Penile cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissue of the penile; it generally starts in a skin cell, known as a squamous cell, and grows slowly from there. Rarely, penile cancer can occur in the sweat glands of the penile.

The main part of the penile is known as the shaft, and the head of the penile is called the glans. At birth, the glans is covered by a piece of skin called the foreskin, or prepuce. The foreskin is often removed in infant boys in an operation called a circumcision.

Inside the penile are 3 chambers that contain a soft, spongy network of blood vessels. Two of these cylinder-shaped chambers, known as the corpora cavernosa, are on either side of the upper part of the penile. The third chamber is below them and is known as the corpus spongiosum. This chamber widens at its end to form the glans. The corpus spongiosum surrounds the urethra, a thin tube that starts at the bladder and runs through the penile. Urine and semen travel through the urethra and leave the body through an opening in the glans of the penile, called the meatus.

Signs and Symptoms of Penile Cancer

The signs and symptoms below don’t always mean a man has penile cancer. In fact, many of them are more likely to be caused by other conditions. Still, if you have any of these signs or symptoms, see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner you can start treatment and the more effective it is likely to be.

Skin changes

Most often, the first sign of penile cancer is a change in the skin of the penile. This is most likely to be on the glans (tip) of the penile or on the foreskin (in uncircumcised men), but it can also be on the shaft. Possible signs of penile cancer include:

● An area of skin becoming thicker and/or changing color
● A lump on the penile
● An ulcer (sore) that might bleed
● A reddish, velvety rash
● Small, crusty bumps
● Flat, bluish-brown growths
● Smelly discharge (fluid) under the foreskin

Sores or lumps from penile cancer are not usually painful, but they can be in some cases. You should see a doctor if you find any kind of new growth or other abnormality on your penile, even if it is not painful.

Swelling

Swelling at the end of the penile, especially when the foreskin is constricted, is another possible sign of penile cancer.

Lumps under the skin in the groin area

If the cancer spreads from the penile, it most often travels first to lymph nodes in the groin. This can make those lymph nodes swell. Lymph nodes are collections of immune system cells. Normally, they are bean-sized and can barely be felt at all. If they are swollen, the lymph nodes may be felt as lumps under the skin.
But swollen lymph nodes don’t always mean that cancer has spread there. More commonly, lymph nodes swell in response to an infection. The skin in and around a penile cancer can often become infected, which might cause the nearby lymph nodes to swell, even if the cancer hasn’t reached them.

Maintaining penile health

Doctors recommend a monthly self-exam of the penile, testicles, and groin area to check for both visible and invisible bumps. Men should carefully palpate the groin and scrotum to feel for bumps, which may indicate testicular or penile cancer. In many case, a sore may be just that; a sore; but it could also be an indication of something more serious. While a careful examination should be conducted monthly, daily penile care should also be instituted to keep the member healthy. Utilizing a high-quality penile vitamin cream (most health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help protect the penile from unsightly pimples, lumps and bumps by reducing bacterial growth and chance of infection. Simply apply a penile vitamin cream directly on the skin after a shower to achieve maximum effect and benefits.