Q. What are the symptoms of penile cancer?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
The signs and symptoms of penile cancer can vary depending on the stage of the disease. Generally, the most common symptoms include a change in color or texture of the skin on your penis, a lump or growth on your penis, an ulceration (eroded tissue), an itchy rash, bleeding from your penis (especially after sex), discharge from your penis that has a foul odor, pain during urination, shrinking of the foreskin/prepuce region or difficulty retracting it over time.
These are all possible signs and symptoms that could indicate penile cancer so if you experience any of these then you should seek medical attention straight away. Many people with early-stage penile cancer have no visible symptoms so regular checkups should be scheduled to detect any changes in this area as soon as possible and before they become more serious.
It is important to remember that not all conditions and lumps result from cancer; many are caused by benign conditions like genital warts which can be treated without major surgery but should still be checked out by a doctor if there is any doubt about their cause. It’s especially important for those who may be at risk for developing this type of cancer due to lifestyle factors such as smoking or having multiple sexual partners.
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential when dealing with this form of cancer since it can quickly spread throughout organs situated nearby such as neighboring lymph nodes or even other parts removed from where it originated if left untreated long enough. Depending upon what stage penile cancer has reached during diagnosis determines what strategy will offer patients with best prognosis chances for survival - knowledge is power when fighting against this deadly illness which is why annually screening yourself is highly recommended even if no outward sign appears just yet!