Adapted for the Canadian edition by Michael Jewett, MD
Cancer of the penis is rare in Canada, affecting only one or two men in 100,000. It is almost never seen in those who have been circumcised as babies, which is a major argument in favor of newborn circumcision. It can occur anywhere along the penile shaft, but most are on the foreskin or head (glans). It is usually a slow growing cancer and is curable if discovered early. Unfortunately, some men do not seek medical attention until after it has spread.
Types Nearly all penile malignancies are cancers of the skin, the most common being squamous cell carcinoma similar to squamous cell carcinomas on other parts of the skin such as the face or hands. Some penile cancers are melanomas, which appear as blue-brown flat growths and tend to spread more rapidly and more widely. Occasionally, the deep tissues of the penis develop cancer, typically sarcomas.
How It Spreads The tumor spreads gradually, becoming larger in the area of the skin where it first develops. Ultimately, it spreads to deep tissues inside the body of the penis and to lymph nodes in the groin (inguinal
