August 22nd, 2017
Penile cancer is an uncommon cancer that may lead to serious and deleterious complications. In severe cases, the cancer is managed by surgical removal of penis, by a procedure known as penectomy. Based on the latest data released by American Cancer Society, it has been estimated that 2,100 cases of penile cancer will be reported in the US by 2017. Although an uncommon malignancy in Europe and US, the penile cancer occurs more frequently in some Asian countries, South America, and parts of Africa. Several histological varieties are identified, such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, sarcoma, and melanoma.
There are 2 surgical varieties of penectomy; complete or partial – depending upon the involvement of deeper layers of penis, your surgeon may excise maximum diseased tissue, while leaving behind the normal tissue. In case of severe involvement, the procedure may involve complete removal of tip, shaft, root; and extending well into the pelvis as well.
In partial penectomy, the surgeon may just remove the tip of penis while leaving behind most of the penile shaft intact.
Other clinical indications of penectomy are:
The risk of adverse effects or complications depends on several factors such as age of patient, extent of disease and nature of procedure performed. The complications may be temporary or permanent; mild or severe.
Surgery related complications include:
Procedure related complications include:
The outcome of this procedure depends mainly on the nature and severity of penile cancer, age of the patient, and tumor size. If tumor has spread to other parts of the body, the patient may need additional treatment. In case of localized disease, the results are often satisfactory after penectomy.
The procedure often changes the expulsion of urine from the body. In most cases, a new opening is created between the scrotum and anus to allow drainage of urine. If the disease, injury or cancer also involves the testicles, your surgeon will also remove the testicles, in which case it is recommended to acquire testosterone supplements.
Make sure to follow your doctor’s advice and keep up with the periodic check-ups. Some tips that may help expedite the recovery process are:
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