Cancer Overview of Cancer Cancer is the out-of-control growth of cells in your body. Cells are the tiny building blocks of your body. Cells specialize in what they do. For example, your intestines have muscle cells to... read more is the out-of-control growth of cells in your body. Cells are the tiny building blocks of your body. Cells specialize in what they do. Different organs are made of different kinds of cells. Almost any kind of cell can become cancerous.
What is penile cancer?
Penile cancer is skin cancer Overview of Skin Cancer Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Skin cancer is most common among people who work or play sports outside and among sunbathers. Fair-skinned people are particularly susceptible... read more on your penis.
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Penile cancer is uncommon and happens mainly in men who aren't circumcised (still have foreskin)
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Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) Genital Warts HPV is a virus that causes warts. There are many types of HPV. Some types of HPV cause warts on your skin Other types of HPV cause warts on your genitals (genital warts) Some of the types of... read more raises the chance of having penile cancer
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It usually happens on the tip of your penis (the glans) or under your foreskin
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Penile cancer is usually treated by doing surgery, but very small cancers may be treated with lasers or cream
What causes penile cancer?
Risk of penile cancer is increased by:
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Infection with HPV (a common sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer Cervical Cancer Cervical cancer develops in the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). Cervical cancer usually results from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), transmitted during sexual intercourse... read more
in women and genital warts Genital Warts HPV is a virus that causes warts. There are many types of HPV. Some types of HPV cause warts on your skin Other types of HPV cause warts on your genitals (genital warts) Some of the types of... read more ) -
Not being circumcised—circumcision is surgery to remove the foreskin from the penis
What are the symptoms of penile cancer?
How do doctors tell if I have penile cancer?
Doctors will examine you and do:
If you have penile cancer, doctors may do other tests, such as CT scan Computed Tomography A CT scan uses a large machine shaped like a large donut to take x-rays from many angles. A computer then takes the x-rays and creates many detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Each... read more 
and MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) MRI is a test that uses a machine with a powerful magnet to make pictures of the inside of your body. A computer records changes in the magnetic field around your body. The computer then uses... read more 
, to see if the cancer has spread.
How do doctors treat penile cancer?
When they're first found, most penile cancers are small and haven't spread. For these small cancers, doctors will:
For larger cancers, doctors do surgery to remove the cancer. Doctors try to take away as little of the penis as possible. However, bigger and more aggressive cancers need more extensive surgery.
