The penis is a rod-shaped male reproductive organ that passes sperm and urine from the body. It contains two types of erectile tissue (spongy tissue with blood vessels that fill with blood to make an erection):
Corpora cavernosa: The two columns of erectile tissue that form most of the penis.
Corpus spongiosum: The single column of erectile tissue that forms a small portion of the penis. The corpus spongiosum surrounds the urethra (the tube through which urine and sperm pass from the body).
The erectile tissue is wrapped in connective tissue and covered with skin. The glans (head of the penis) is covered with loose skin called the foreskin.
Signs and Symptoms
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
- An area of skin becoming thicker and/or changing color
- A lump on the penis
- An ulcer (sore) that might bleed
- A reddish, velvety rash
- Small, crusty bumps
- Flat, bluish-brown growths
- Smelly discharge (fluid) under the foreskin
Swelling
Swelling at the end of the penis, 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 penis, 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.
Treatment
The main types of penile cancer treatment in Delhi used are:
- Surgery
- Local therapy (other than surgery) for some very early penile cancers
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
Surgery is the main treatment for most penile cancers, but sometimes radiation therapy may be used, either instead of or in addition to surgery. Other local treatments might also be used for early-stage tumors. Chemotherapy may be given for some larger tumors or if cancer has spread.
Depending on the type and stage of your cancer and your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team, including:
- A urologist: a surgeon who specializes in diseases of the male genitals and urinary tract
- A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer
- A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat cancer
Many other specialists might be part of your treatment team as well, including other doctors, physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, and other health professionals. See Health Professionals Associated With Cancer Care for more on this. The goal of your cancer care team is to treat cancer while limiting the treatment’s effects on the function and appearance of the penis. If cancer can’t be cured, the goal may be to remove or destroy as much of cancer as possible and to prevent the tumor from growing, spreading, or returning for as long as possible. Sometimes treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, even if you might not be cured.
