If penile cancer spreads

Last medical review:

Cancer cells can spread from the penis to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your healthcare team plan your treatment and future care. If penile cancer spreads, it can spread to the following:

Expert review and references

  • Di (Maria) Jiang, MD, MS, FRCPC
  • Mark JR, Hurwitz MD, Gomella LG, Kelly WK. Cancer of the urethra and penis. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg S. eds. DeVita Hellman and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2023: Kindle version, Chapter 46, https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B0BG3DPT4Q&language=en-CA.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Penile Cancer Version 2.2025. 2025. https://www.nccn.org/home.
  • Pettaway CA, Srigley JR, Brookland RK, et al. Penis. Amin MB (ed.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual . 8th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2017: 57:709–722.

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