Penile Cancer

Penile cancer is rare. Almost all cases start in the skin of the penis and are squamous cell carcinomas. The rest of the cases are basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Are you looking for a team of experts to treat penile cancer? Goshen Center for Cancer Care is experienced in treating a wide range of cancers, including rare and complex types. As northern Indiana’s first comprehensive cancer center, we offer the personalized care you need from diagnosis to treatment to recovery.

Recognizing penile cancer symptoms and your risk

Signs of penile cancer include:

• Swelling
• Lump on the penis
• Sore or ulcer that might bleed
• Bleeding from the tip of the penis
• Reddish, velvety rash
• Thickening or changes in skin color
• Small, crusty bumps
• Foul-smelling fluid under the foreskin
• Flat, bluish-brown growths

Infections, allergic reactions and other conditions can also cause these symptoms. See your doctor for a diagnosis. This is especially important if you are at risk for developing penile cancer. The two main risk factors are human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and uncircumcision. Other risk factors include being age 50 or older, smoking and having HIV or AIDS.

Treating penile cancer at Goshen Center for Cancer Care

Created by an integrated team of specialists, your treatment plan is based on the stage of the cancer, your personal preferences and overall health. While surgery is the main treatment for penile cancer, radiation therapy with or without surgery may also be an option.

Very early stages of penile cancer may only need local therapy with topical chemotherapy, lasers or liquid nitrogen to freeze away the cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy is usually only necessary for large tumors or cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

We treat cancer differently from any other facility in the region because we pair integrative therapies with traditional treatment. This is because we care for your complete well-being and want to maintain your quality of life during treatment.