Penile+Cancer

Michael Flagel

** Penile Cancer  ** ** Description ** Penile cancer is the growth of malignant cells in the penis. If the cancer is not treated, it can spread to the lymph nodes in the groin and eventually to other parts of the body. What causes penile cancer is still uncertain to this day. Surgery for penile cancer can result in decreased fertility, erectile dysfunction, and decreased volume of semen. Men who are circumcised after they are born are significantly less likely to develop penile cancer than men who have never had a circumcision. This also includes men who are circumcised later on in life. Penile cancer is very rare. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer (2006), “ Penile cancer is a rare form of cancer that develops in about one out of 100,000 men per year in the United States” (p. 957). The statistics reveal that this cancer is very rare but still a threat. It is very important that men take this disease seriously and do everything in their power to avoid it. ** Symptoms ** The patient will have an open sore or wart-like bump(s) on the penis, which also includes lesions on the penis that are usually painless. The patient might also bleed from the penis and experience pain while urinating. ** Signs/Treatments ** The only way to figure out if the patient has penile cancer is for the doctor to perform a biopsy on the penis to determine the implications of the growth. If the patient is diagnosed with penile cancer, there are three main treatment methods: chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses certain medicine to destroy the cancerous cells. Radiation utilizes powerful X-rays to eradicate the cancer cells. Finally, the last treatment method, surgery, severs the penis and extracts the cancer. These are the three most popular methods to treat penile cancer and can be used in different combinations. The above image demonstrates the surgery process conducted to remove penile cancer ** Outcomes/Prevention ** Like any other type of cancer, discovery and treatment as early as possible is ideal. According to Pub Med Health (2010), “ The 5-year survival rate for penile cancers is 65%” (p. 1). There are many ways to prevent penile cancer. As mentioned earlier, circumcision is a great way to prevent this type of cancer because the patient does not have to worry about infections developing beneath the foreskin of the penis. Safer sex is also important. For example, limiting the amount of sexual partners will help along with using condoms while engaging in sexual intercourse. If any penile cancer symptoms arise please immediately contact your physician. ** Masculinity Threat  ** To this day, researchers still do not fully understand the implications that penile cancer surgery has on the masculinity of the patient. A research study was conducted and published in the Psycho-Oncology journal, which can be found in the Wiley Online Library. The study discovered that men who have had penile cancer have experienced changes to the self among other things. The results showed that (2009), “ Men should have an altered sense of masculine identity following penile cancer surgery is not unexpected” (p.933). Having this cancer can have serious consequences on the psyche of an individual. The study reveled that a man who undergoes penile cancer surgery will suffer decreased sense of masculinity and will report a change in their views of themselves and the world. Patients will also feel hesitation to communicate with their peers and family about this issue. Having this illness can be very demoralizing to the male because the penis has symbolic meaning in our culture. This symbolic meaning concerns male dominance and power that when threatened, can be detrimental to the mindset and self-esteem of the male. As a result, communication with the outside world can be very difficult and sometimes even non-existent. ** Support  ** It is extremely important that you care for someone who has or has had penile cancer. Having someone there to support the patient can only help and improve the mentality of the patient. This support includes positive communication that will help the patient hurdle this life obstacle. According to the Honor Society of Nursing (2011), “In more advanced cases of penile cancer, where penectomy has been performed to remove some or all of the penis, you may have to help a sexual partner maintain a positive self-image in the face of a potentially devastating blow to the male psyche” (p. 1). As mentioned earlier, penile cancer can have serious psychological consequences. Positive sexual communication is very important in order to improve the mental as well as physical health of the patient. A support group is a great healing tool that a patient can utilize to overcome any trauma. Either way, professionals, peers, or family should inform the patient that there are many ways to overcome any mental discomfort or shame. The image above demonstrates the layout of a support group. Men should seek a support group out for comfort if they want help coping ** Circumcision  ** Health care providers cannot stress the importance of a circumcision enough. Having a circumcision is extremely important for the health of a man. A man who is uncircumcised is significantly more likely to develop penile cancer. Physicians are trying to get everyone to have a circumcision. For example, doctor Steven N. Gange states that (1999), “Penile cancer, if caught early enough, may be treated with circumcision interestingly, penile cancer virtually never occurs in circumcised men” (p.1). It is never to late to have a circumcision. This procedure is typically safe and usually done with anesthesia. Side effects may occur but the procedure is still considered necessary by most doctors. Provider-patient communication must be taken seriously. Even though penile cancer is very rare, doctors and their patients should be able to discuss the issue and make sure that the patient is taking all the proper precautions to avoid developing this disease. ** References  ** Bullen, K., Edwards S., Marke, V., Matthews, S. (2009). Looking past the obvious: experiences of altered masculinity in penile cancer. Psycho-Oncology: Journal of the psychological, social, and behavioral dimensions of cancer, p.933. Front Range Counseling Center, (2008). Group Counseling, p.1. http://www.frontrangecounselingcenter.com/images/groups.jpg Gange, S. (1999). When is adult circumcision necessary. CNN Health, p.1. Haggerty, M., Johnson P. (2006). Penile Cancer. //Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer,// p. 957 Honor Society of Nursing, (2011). Sharecare, p.1. Memorial Regional Cancer Center, (2011). Penile Cancer Treatment, p. 1. http://www.qualityoflife.org/memorialCMS/images/cancer/full/CDR0000661753.jpg Pettaway, C., Lynch, D., Davis, J. (2010). Cancer-Penis. Pub Med Health, p.1.