Q. How is advanced penile cancer treated?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Seconmedic Expert

Advanced penile cancer is a complex and challenging disease to treat, and there is no single standard approach for treatment. The course of treatment largely depends on the stage of the cancer, as well as individual patient factors. Generally, treatments may include surgery to remove the tumor along with some surrounding normal tissue (called wide local excision), radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Surgery: Surgery is often used for penile cancers that have not yet spread beyond the organ it originated from (localized). This can involve removing part or all of the penis (partial or total penectomy) depending on how much tissue needs to be removed in order to safely get rid of all visible traces of cancer. If a partial penis removal is necessary, reconstructive surgery may also be performed at this time if desired by the patient. It’s important to note that these surgeries are more complex than other surgeries related to genital organs due to their delicate nature and intricate design within an otherwise confined space in our bodies.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation beams directed precisely at tumors in order to destroy them while minimizing damage done to healthy cells around them; it’s most effective when used alongside other treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy and has been shown very promising results in patients with advanced penile cancers even when only used alone without any surgical removal procedures being done priorly. Radiation therapy causes fewer long-term side effects than those associated with other forms such energy-based therapies like proton beam therapy due its limited exposure duration when compared directly against them; however, there still remain some common but mild side effects from repeated use including fatigue/weakness, skin irritation/redness around affected area(s), hair loss among others—these symptoms should subside shortly once treatment ends completely so don’t worry too much about them if you happen find yourself having experienced any!

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs help kill off active cancer cells by targeting specific molecules within their cell walls which they rely on for critical processes like replication & division amongst several others thereby effectively destroying existing tumors both locally & remotely depending upon route taken (e.g intravenous vs topical deliveries); however, its potential efficacy greatly depends upon how advanced one's form of penile cancer currently is along with several other factors including response rate towards certain drug regimes particularly those involving certain types chemo agents designed combat more aggressive strains that are occasionally seen cases where one's tumor has progressed past traditional means dealing solely through surgical resectional methods alone—the typical regimen consists relatively frequent injections over multiple sessions until levels desired ratios between dead versus living tissues have reached respectively stabilizing point followed then careful monitoring determine effect lasting remission occur .

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