Penile cancer is any malignancy which starts on the penis and spreads to nearby areas. The most common treatments for penile cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Biologic therapy and radiosensitizers are treatments which are still considered experimental. Your doctor will choose the best treatment for you based on the location and size of the tumor, and what stage your cancer is in.

Surgery for Penile Cancer

Surgery can be used to treat all stages of penile cancer. It is often performed when the cancer is located only on the skin and has not spread beyond the penis.

Mohs microsurgery is a procedure in which the surgeon removes cancerous skin tissue one layer at a time. A Pathologist examines each layer with a microscope to confirm that the cancer is gone. This procedure is used only when the cancerous tissue is localized to the outer layers of the skin and has not spread beyond the penis. This procedure allows as little tissue removal as possible.

Laser surgery uses a focused beam of light to remove cancerous tissue. Laser surgery works to remove both surface legions and large tumors. In wide local excision the doctor uses a scalpel or laser to remove both cancerous tissue and some normal surrounding tissue. Cryosurgery uses cold to freeze and kill the cancer cells.

Penile cancer most often affects the glans (tip of penis) and the foreskin. Circumcision (removal of the foreskin) is performed if the foreskin is affected by cancer. For advanced cancer, a penectomy is performed where all or part of the penis is amputated. Sometimes the prostate gland, lymph nodes or nearby skin is removed to prevent the cancer from spreading.

Radiation & Chemotherapy

Radiation (high energy x-rays or other forms of radiation) can be used to kill cancer cells and prevent spreading.

• External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to apply radiation to the tumor.
• Internal radiation therapy is a procedure where the doctor places a radioactive substance directly inside the body. Sometimes radiation is used to avoid surgery and to preserve the shape and function of the penis.

Chemotherapy uses drugs or a combination of drugs to kill cancerous cells and stop cancer from spreading. Cisplatin, fluorouracil, bleomycin, and methotrexane are all drugs used to treat penile cancer. Chemo drugs can be administered either by mouth or by injection into a vein. Topical chemotherapy in the form of lotion, cream or ointment can be used to treat early stages of penile cancer.Chemotherapy is often combined with surgery or radiation for more aggressive treatment.

Experimental Treatments for Penile Cancer

Biologic therapy uses manufactured substances or substances made by the body to boost the immune system and encourage the body to fight cancer directly. In early stages of penile cancer, biologic therapy can be applied directly to the skin of the penis.Radiosensitizers are drugs that increase the effectiveness of radiation treatments by making cancer cells more sensitive to radiation.There are many options for treating penile cancer. Talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that is right for you.