To treat penile cancer, doctors may propose a surgical procedure called penectomy, which involves removing the penis. Depending on the extent of the cancer, this operation may involve total or partial removal of the penis, as well as the scrotum and inguinal lymph nodes.
Men with penis cancer
- Infection/sepsis
- Chronic pain
- Problems of scarring or degradation of the skin
- Accumulation of liquids
- Narrowing of the urethra
- Possibility of having to sit to urinate
- Possible inability to have sex
- Lifelong need for testosterone supplements in case of emasculation
- A hospitalization of 2 to 3 days
- Convalescence varies between 2 and 4 weeks
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Penile cancer: Types, symptoms & treatments
Penile cancer is a malignant tumor that develops on the penis. Although it's relatively rare, it's important to be aware of it and the treatment options available.
Types of penile cancer
Most penile cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which affect the squamous cells of the penile skin. Other less common types include
- Basal cell carcinoma: A slow-growing tumor that usually develops on the foreskin.
- Melanoma: Aggressive form of skin cancer, rarely found on the penis.
- Adenocarcinoma: A tumor that affects the sweat glands of the penis.
- Sarcoma: Cancer of the soft tissues of the penis, such as blood vessels, muscles, or connective tissue.
Common symptoms
Early signs of penile cancer may include:
- A change in the skin of the penis (redness, thickening, warts).
- A mass or tumor on the penis.
- Changes in urinary habits (difficulty urinating, pain, discharge).
- Bleeding or ulcers on the penis.
Diagnosis and treatment
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately. Diagnosis is usually based on a physical examination, biopsy, and possibly imaging tests.
Treatment for penile cancer depends on the stage and type of cancer. Treatment options include:
- Surgery: The most common option, aimed at removing the tumor and a margin of surrounding healthy tissue.
- Radiation therapy: Uses powerful X-rays to destroy cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: Uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
- Laser therapy: Uses high-intensity lasers to destroy cancer cells.
What is a penile ablation?
Penectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the penis. In some cases, it may include removal of the testicles and scrotum (emasculation) in an attempt to cure the disease and relieve associated symptoms. The extent of the surgery depends on the depth of the cancer.
Usually, the need to remove the penis arises because of a malignant tumor in this area. Occasionally, other pathologies affecting the organ, such as severe infection or congenital malformations, may necessitate removal.
Despite the upheaval involved, a penectomy can be life-saving, and a cure may be found for cancer or other serious conditions. Many men go on to live full and happy lives after this surgery, thanks to the support of their loved ones, medical advances, and the reconstructive options available in Turkey.
Types of penectomies
In most cases of penile cancer, the tumor is confined to the skin, allowing the surgeon to remove only the superficial layers of the skin. The extent of the surgery depends on the location of the tumor. For example, the foreskin, glans, or part of the body of the penis may be removed.
Most men regain normal sexual and urinary function after this type of surgery.
In cases where the cancer has spread to the tissues of the penis, surgeons may need to perform a penectomy. There are 3 types of penectomies:
- A partial penectomy: Surgeons will remove the head of the penis and any affected parts of the shaft, usually trying to leave as much of the shaft as possible to ensure that the patient can still urinate standing up and retain some sexual function.
- A total penectomy: In this case, surgeons remove not only the entire organ, but also the roots of the penis that extend into the pelvic region. The urethra is moved to the space between the testicles and the anus. The patient will be able to control urination, but will have to sit down to urinate and will no longer be able to have sexual intercourse.
- Emasculation: Very rarely, the cancer spreads so far that surgeons have to remove the scrotum and testicles as well as the penis. Any man who has undergone this surgery will need to take hormone replacement therapy for the rest of his life.
Penectomy surgery process in Turkey
Penile cancer: a difficult ordeal to overcome? In Turkey, you can regain hope with a state-of-the-art treatment: penectomy. Performed by experienced experts, this surgical procedure offers you the best possible chance of recovery, with scrupulous respect for medical ethics. The surgery is performed on patients in the supine position under spinal anesthesia.
Choose penectomy in Turkey and benefit from the most advanced medical expertise in an environment conducive to your healing and well-being.
Contact us today for a free teleconsultation to learn more about penile cancer treatment in Turkey.
Post-operative effects of penectopmy surgery
The following side effects or complications may occasionally occur after a penectomy:
- Persistence of penile discomfort.
- Neuralgia (nerve pain),hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity),or hypoesthesia (decreased sensitivity).
- Swelling or necrosis of the skin of the penis.
- Decreased ability to maintain an erection.
- Stenosis of the new urethral metra.
- Need to urinate sitting down in case of a small stump or perineal dilation of the urethra.
- Infection of the wound that may cause cosmetic defects.
- Bleeding to varying degrees. The consequences of this hemorrhage are very diverse depending on the type of treatment required, ranging from the minimum severity to the certain possibility of death, as a direct result of the hemorrhage or because of secondary to the treatments used.
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