Cancer of the penis is cancer that starts in the penis, an organ that makes up part of the male reproductive system.
Alternative Names:
Penile cancer; Squamous cell cancer - penis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
The exact cause is unknown.
Smegma, a cheese-like, foul-smelling substance found under the foreskin of the penis may increase the risk of penis cancer.
Uncircumcised men who do not keep the area under the foreskin clean and men with a history of genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV) are at higher risk for this rare disorder.
Painless sore on penis (occasionally, the lesion may cause pain)
Penis pain and bleeding from the penis (may occur with advanced disease)
Signs and tests:
The health care provider will perform a physical exam, which may reveal a non-tender lesion that looks like a pimple or wart. This growth is typically near the end of the penis.
A biopsy of the growth is needed to confirm if it is cancer.
Review Date: 10/31/2006
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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