Spotlight on penile cancer The penis is the external genital organ of a man. It is composed of three chambers of spongy tissue that contain smooth muscle and many blood vessels and nerves. The corpora cavernosa makes up two of the chambers located on both sides of the upper part of the penis. The corpus spongiosum is located below the corpora cavernosa and surrounds the urethra. The urethra is the tube through which semen and urine exit the body at an opening called the meatus. At the tip of the penis, the corpora cavernosa expands to form the head of the penis, or glans.
What is penile cancer?
Penile cancer symptoms
Penile cancer is a rare type of cancer and occurs on the foreskin, on the skin of the penile shaft, or the glans (head) of the penis. It occurs mostly in uncircumcised men (men who still have foreskin around the head of the penis). Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin and may reduce the risk of penile cancer.
People with penile cancer may experience a variety of symptoms. Symptoms may include: • a growth or sore on the head of the penis (the glans), the foreskin or on the shaft of the penis that doesn’t heal in a couple of weeks • bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin • a hard lump on or under the foreskin
The stats*
• an odorous discharge under the foreskin
Penile cancer is rare. In 2020 there were an estimated 136 cases of penile cancer diagnosed and 24 deaths from this disease. In 2012–2016, on average, 73.8% of males diagnosed with penile cancer survived 5 years after diagnosis. And it was estimated that in 2020 males had a 1 in 1,391 (or <0.1%) risk of being diagnosed with penile cancer by the age of 80.
• c hanges in the colour of the skin on the penis or foreskin • t hickening of the skin on the penis or foreskin that makes it hard to pull back the foreskin • p ain in the shaft or tip of the penis • s welling at the tip of the penis • a rash on the penis or a constant red patch of skin that does not resolve • l umps in the groin due to swollen lymph nodes.
136 men
Were estimated to be affected by penile cancer in Australia in 2020.
Reference *https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/summary
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