6 warning signs of penile cancer

The Department of Andrology - 108 Central Military Hospital (Hanoi) said that in the past, penile cancer was rare, but in recent years, penile cancer has tended to increase and shows signs of rejuvenation.

There was a time when, in just one month, this department received and treated nearly 15 patients with penile cancer. Notably, penile cancer often occurs silently for several years without the patient realizing it. When the initial symptoms appear, the patient is often embarrassed to go to the doctor.

Penile cancer is a rare disease, accounting for about 4 - 6% of all cancers, ranking 17th among common cancers in men in Vietnam. In Hanoi , the rate of penile cancer is 2.1/100,000 people, and in Ho Chi Minh City it is about 3.4%.

Recognize the warning signs of penile cancer for early diagnosis and effective treatment

PHOTO: TL HANOI ONCology Hospital

The most commonly cited causes of penile cancer are untreated phimosis and a history of genital HPV infection. In addition, genetic or gene mutation causes are still being studied.

This cancer affects the quality of life and even threatens the life of the patient, but if detected early and phimosis and precancerous lesions are treated early, it can be easily prevented.

With active treatment in the early stages, the patient will recover completely. Treatment (in the early stages) includes: partial or total penectomy, bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection, combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for radical treatment.

In the late stages, when cancer cells invade surrounding organs and metastasize to organs throughout the body, treatment is only palliative and symptomatic.

Regarding the recognition of penile cancer, Dr. Phan Le Nhat Long, Department of Andrology - 108 Central Military Hospital, noted that there are 6 signs of the disease: change in thickness or color of the penis skin; rash or small scaly bumps on the penis; lumps on the penis; foul-smelling discharge under the foreskin; pain, possibly bleeding during erection or during sex; and swelling of the glans penis.

Doctor Long noted that people need to have safe sex and pay attention to daily genital hygiene to prevent inflammation of the glans penis as well as penile cancer caused by the sexually transmitted HPV virus.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/6-dau-hieu-canh-bao-ung-thu-duong-vat-185241225192431809.htm