Understanding Penile Cancer
- If you notice a strange "bluish growth" that’s popped up on the head of your penis, it's important to know it could be a sign of penile cancer.
- Penile cancer is cancer that starts in the penis, which is the external male sex organ, and it's rare, especially among men in North America and Europe.
- This year, about 2,070 new cases of penile cancer will be diagnosed in men in the U.S., and about 470 people will die from this type of cancer.
In fact, one of the first signs of penile cancer is typically a change in the skin of the penis.
Read MoreRelated: Professional Clown Has Penis Amputated After Being Diagnosed With Penile Cancer
Signs & Symptoms
As previously mentioned, if your penis has formed a blue or brown-colored growth, it could be a sign of penile cancer.
According to ACS, some other symptoms of this cancer include:
- An area of skin becoming thicker
- Changes in the skin color
- A lump
- An ulcer (sore) that might bleed
- A reddish, velvety rash under the foreskin
- Small, crusty bumps
- Flat, bluish-brown growths
- Smelly discharge (fluid) or bleeding under the foreskin
- Swelling
- Lumps under the skin in the groin area
Types of Penile Cancer
As previously mentioned, most times, the first sign of penile cancer is a change in the skin. And that's because almost all penile cancers start in skin cells of the organ.
However, according to ACS, each type of tissue (skin) in the penis contains different types of cells. And different types of penile cancer can start from these cells.
The differences between the types of penile cancer are important because they "determine the seriousness of the cancer and the type of treatment needed," according to ACS.
Here are the types of penile cancer:
- Squamous cell carcinoma: About 95% of penile cancers start in flat skin cells called squamous cells.
- Verrucous carcinoma: This type of cancer growing on the penis is also known as Buschke-Lowenstein tumor. It's an "uncommon form" of squamous cell cancer that can start in the skin in many areas.
- Carcinoma in situ (CIS): This is the earliest stage of squamous cell cancer of the penis.
- Melanoma: The deadliest form of skin cancer; melanoma starts in melanocytes.
- Basal cell carcinoma: This is another type of skin cancer that can develop on the penis.
- Adenocarcinoma (Paget disease of the penis): This very rare type of penile cancer can develop from sweat glands in the skin of the penis.
- Sarcoma: A small number of penile cancers are sarcomas. These cancers develop from blood vessels, smooth muscle or other connective tissue cells of the penis.
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