Penile cancer
What is penile cancer?
Penile cancer starts in the cells of the penis. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis.
Risks for penile cancer
Risks for penile cancer include human papillomavirus (HPV), not being circumcised and phimosis.
Signs and symptoms of penile cancer
Common signs and symptoms of penile cancer include a growth or open sore on the penis, changes to skin colour and discharge from the penis.
Diagnosis of penile cancer
Penile cancer can be diagnosed or ruled out by tests such as a biopsy.
Grading penile cancer
Grading describes how cancer cells look compared to healthy cells. Low-grade penile cancer tends to grow more slowly and is less likely to spread than high-grade penile cancer.
Stages of penile cancer
The stage of penile cancer describes the size of the tumour (T), if cancer is in the lymph nodes (N) and if it has spread or metastasized (M).
If penile cancer spreads
Penile cancer can spread (metastasize) to lymph nodes in the groin and pelvis. It can also spread to the lungs and bones.
Prognosis and survival for penile cancer
Prognosis estimates the outcome for penile cancer. It depends on many factors including the stage of cancer, whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and size of the tumour.
Treatments for penile cancer
Penile cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Supportive care for penile cancer
Supportive care for penile cancer helps people meet physical, emotional and spiritual challenges.
Penile cancer statistics
Cancer statistics tell us how many people in Canada are diagnosed with and die from penile cancer in a certain time frame.
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