Penile Cancer – Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | I D Cancer Center
What Is Penile Cancer?
Early diagnosis greatly improves treatment success and long-term outcomes.
⭐ Who Is at Risk?
Risk factors for penile cancer include:
HPV infection (Human Papillomavirus)
Poor genital hygiene
Phimosis (tight foreskin)
Smoking and tobacco use
Age > 50 years
Chronic inflammation or infections
Multiple sexual partners
Weakened immune system
Risk factors for penile cancer include:
HPV infection (Human Papillomavirus)
Poor genital hygiene
Phimosis (tight foreskin)
Smoking and tobacco use
Age > 50 years
Chronic inflammation or infections
Multiple sexual partners
Weakened immune system
⭐ Signs & Symptoms
Penile cancer often begins subtly. Seek medical evaluation if you notice:
Painless lump, sore, or ulcer on the penis
Redness, thickening, or skin changes
Foul-smelling discharge
Bleeding or persistent rash
Wart-like growth
Non-healing ulcer (most important)
Swelling of lymph nodes in the groin
Any symptom persisting more than 2 weeks requires medical assessment.
Penile cancer often begins subtly. Seek medical evaluation if you notice:
Painless lump, sore, or ulcer on the penis
Redness, thickening, or skin changes
Foul-smelling discharge
Bleeding or persistent rash
Wart-like growth
Non-healing ulcer (most important)
Swelling of lymph nodes in the groin
Any symptom persisting more than 2 weeks requires medical assessment.
⭐ How Penile Cancer Is Diagnosed
At I D Cancer Center, diagnosis follows an evidence-based, structured protocol:
At I D Cancer Center, diagnosis follows an evidence-based, structured protocol:
✔ Clinical Examination
Assessment of lesions, foreskin mobility, and lymph nodes.
Assessment of lesions, foreskin mobility, and lymph nodes.
✔ Biopsy (Gold Standard)
A small tissue sample confirms cancer type.
A small tissue sample confirms cancer type.
✔ Imaging Tests
Ultrasound
MRI of penis
CT scan (for spread)
PET-CT when required
Ultrasound
MRI of penis
CT scan (for spread)
PET-CT when required
✔ Lymph Node Assessment
Detecting spread to groin nodes is critical for staging.
Detecting spread to groin nodes is critical for staging.
⭐ Staging (Clinical Stages)
Stage I: Cancer limited to superficial layers
Stage II: Invasion into deeper tissues
Stage III: Spread to groin lymph nodes
Stage IV: Distant spread
Early-stage tumors are highly curable.
Stage I: Cancer limited to superficial layers
Stage II: Invasion into deeper tissues
Stage III: Spread to groin lymph nodes
Stage IV: Distant spread
Early-stage tumors are highly curable.
⭐ Treatment Options at I D Cancer Center
Management depends on tumor size, spread, and patient preference.
Management depends on tumor size, spread, and patient preference.
1. Organ-Preserving Treatments
For early disease:
Topical chemotherapy/Imiquimod
Laser therapy
Wide local excision
Circumcision (if foreskin is involved)
Mohs microsurgery
For early disease:
Topical chemotherapy/Imiquimod
Laser therapy
Wide local excision
Circumcision (if foreskin is involved)
Mohs microsurgery
2. Surgery
Partial penectomy – removes tumor while preserving function
Total penectomy – for large or advanced tumors
Inguinal lymph node removal when nodes are affected
Partial penectomy – removes tumor while preserving function
Total penectomy – for large or advanced tumors
Inguinal lymph node removal when nodes are affected
3. Radiation Therapy
At I D Cancer Center, we use precision technologies to preserve organ function:
IMRT
VMAT/Arc Therapy
Brachytherapy (in select cases)
Radiation can be curative for early tumors or used after surgery to reduce recurrence.
At I D Cancer Center, we use precision technologies to preserve organ function:
IMRT
VMAT/Arc Therapy
Brachytherapy (in select cases)
Radiation can be curative for early tumors or used after surgery to reduce recurrence.
4. Chemotherapy
Used for:
Locally advanced disease
Lymph node involvement
Metastatic cancer
Common drugs include cisplatin-based combinations.
Used for:
Locally advanced disease
Lymph node involvement
Metastatic cancer
Common drugs include cisplatin-based combinations.
5. Targeted Therapy / Immunotherapy
Considered in selected cases based on tumor biology and HPV association.
Considered in selected cases based on tumor biology and HPV association.
⭐ Prognosis
Prognosis depends on:
Stage at diagnosis
Lymph node involvement
Tumor grade
Treatment response
Early detection and organ-preserving treatments significantly improve survival and quality of life.
Prognosis depends on:
Stage at diagnosis
Lymph node involvement
Tumor grade
Treatment response
Early detection and organ-preserving treatments significantly improve survival and quality of life.
⭐ Prevention
Maintain good genital hygiene
Circumcision (especially in childhood) reduces risk
Avoid tobacco
Practice safe sex; reduce risk of HPV infection
HPV vaccination for boys (recommended by global guidelines)
Maintain good genital hygiene
Circumcision (especially in childhood) reduces risk
Avoid tobacco
Practice safe sex; reduce risk of HPV infection
HPV vaccination for boys (recommended by global guidelines)
⭐ Why Choose I D Cancer Center?
Expert evaluation by Dr. Sunil Kumar
Advanced radiotherapy techniques (IMRT/VMAT)
Multidisciplinary tumor board
Organ-preserving treatment options
Privacy-focused, compassionate patient care
Modern diagnostics and personalized protocols
Expert evaluation by Dr. Sunil Kumar
Advanced radiotherapy techniques (IMRT/VMAT)
Multidisciplinary tumor board
Organ-preserving treatment options
Privacy-focused, compassionate patient care
Modern diagnostics and personalized protocols
