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February 8, 2012

Penis Cancer

Penile Cancer Symptoms and Signs

Possible signs of penile cancer include sores, discharge, and bleeding.

These and other symptoms may be caused by penile cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

  • Redness, irritation, or a sore on the penis.


  • A lump on the penis.

Penile cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the penis.

The penis is a rod-shaped male reproductive organ that passes sperm and urine from the body. It contains two types of erectile tissue (spongy tissue with blood vessels that fill with blood to make an erection):

  • Corpora cavernosa: The two columns of erectile tissue that form most of the penis.


  • Corpus spongiosum: The single column of erectile tissue that forms a small portion of the penis. The corpus spongiosum surrounds the urethra (the tube through which urine and sperm pass from the body).

The erectile tissue is wrapped in connective tissue and covered with skin. The glans (head of the penis) is covered with loose skin called the foreskin.

Human papillomavirus infection may increase the risk of developing penile cancer.

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. Risk factors for penile cancer include the following:

Circumcision may help prevent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). A circumcision is an operation in which the doctor removes part or all of the foreskin from the penis. Many boys are circumcised shortly after birth. Men who were not circumcised at birth may have a higher risk of developing penile cancer.

Other risk factors for penile cancer include the following:

  • Being age 60 or older.


  • Having phimosis (a condition in which the foreskin of the penis cannot be pulled back over the glans).


  • Having poor personal hygiene.


  • Having many sexual partners.


  • Using tobacco products.


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Suggested Reading on Penis Cancer by Our Doctors

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Penis Cancer

Genital warts (HPV) facts

  • Genital warts are caused by infection with a subgroup of the human papillomaviruses (HPVs).
  • Another subgroup of the HPVs that infect the anogenital tract can lead to precancerous changes in the uterine cervix and cause cervical cancer.
  • HPV infection is now considered to be the most common sexually-transmitted infection (sexually transmitted disease, STD) in the U.S., and it is believed that at least 75% of the reproductive-age population has been infected with sexually-transmitted HPV at some point in life.
  • HPV infection is common and does not usually lead to the development of warts, cancers, or even symptoms.
  • HPV infection of the genital tract is transmitted through sexual contact, although non-sexual transmission is also possible.
  • In many cases genital warts do not cause any symptoms, but they are sometimes associated with itching, burning, or tenderness.
  • ...

Read the Genital Warts (HPV) article »







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