Men feel a little shy to share about their penile issues openly. Most of the time, it can be embarrassing, and ignoring it as a normal issue can feel right. But the issues that look obvious in the beginning can turn into penile cancer. It’s a very rare type of cancer that develops in the tissues of the penis or the cells that cover its surface. Its uncommon nature can make it even more difficult to recognize in the first place.
Symptoms you should look for
Early changes can be easy for you to ignore. It can feel like a normal skin or fungal infection, but it can get serious if it continues for a longer duration.
A growing lump or soreness on the penis that doesn’t heal.
Thickening of your foreskin or sudden color changes.
A sudden urine discharge or unexplained bleeding from the penis.
Constant itching and rashes that don’t improve.
What are the risk factors?
There can be many factors that can lead to the risk of penile cancer. But not all of these factors confirm that you have penile cancer. Infection is one of the major reasons for your penile health risk. Certain types of HPVs can be linked to the risk of penile cancer. Your habit of smoking can also be dangerous for your penile health. Harmful chemicals like tobacco and nicotine in cigarettes damage your genital cells and lead to severe complications. Also, your poor genital hygiene can cause inflammation and long-term irritation.
How is a diagnosis decided?
Your penile cancer diagnosis is determined through a series of medical evaluations. Doctors may take your physical examination first to see the sores and skin changes on the penis. If they find something suspicious, then the next step can be a biopsy, where a small sample of affected tissue is taken for examination. It's only after all these tests that doctors come to a conclusion and a diagnosis is decided upon.
Types of possible treatments
No single approach can be used for your penile cancer diagnosis. The type of treatment is decided based on your medical condition, location, stage of your cancer, and size of your tumor. Surgery is usually the first step that doctors go for cancer removal, while sparing the normal tissues. Depending on the results of your surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be recommended.
What are the preventive steps?
Although penile cancer is very rare, certain steps can reduce its risk of occurrence.
Maintain good genital hygiene to prevent long-term infections.
Receive an HPV vaccination to avoid certain virus strains that can be linked to genital cancer.
Stay informed and aware of unusual changes for early detection of issues.
Stay aware
Detection of penile cancer can be confusing when the symptoms are so common. But with a little hygiene and awareness, you can buy yourself time for recovery and get back to your life with a new hope.