Methods of diagnosis and treatment of penile cancer

In order to have effective treatments for penile cancer, doctors need to make an accurate diagnosis of a patient's stage based on the symptoms the patient provides. Early detection of the disease is important in improving the effectiveness of treatment. This article will provide information about penile cancer and its treatment and diagnosis methods.

Penile cancer is a disease that occurs in men, usually starting on the glans or in the groove of the glans, then it spreads to the foreskin, making them impossible to pull up. The cancer has metastasized by lymphatic route to the inguinal and retroscrotal lymph nodes.

When you realize you have signs of penile cancer, you should immediately go to medical facilities and hospitals for an accurate diagnosis. Based on the symptoms provided by the patient, the doctor will order the necessary tests to confirm whether the patient has penile cancer or not. The main tests given to diagnose the disease include:
Biopsy: The doctor will take a small tissue sample from the skin lesion on the patient's penis for testing. Test results to determine if this tissue sample is cancerous
Imaging tests : Imaging tests using X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) It also helps the doctor make a conclusion about whether or not penile cancer is present. These tests allow a person to look inside a person's body for tumors or other signs that the cancer has spread.

After the diagnosis process, the doctor will have a clear understanding of the patient's medical condition, from here, the doctor will decide which treatment method is best and help predict the patient's prognosis. If a person has cancer in the early stages, the chance of recovery is better than with advanced cancer.
In patients with early-stage penile cancer, treatment may include:
Topical creams for topical use; Cryotherapy - a procedure that uses extremely cold liquids or devices to freeze and destroy tissue containing cancer; Mohs surgery, in which doctors remove the affected skin, one layer at a time, until they reach normal, healthy tissue; Using lasers to cut and destroy areas containing cancer; Perform surgical removal of the foreskin. Patients will be indicated for this procedure if they only have cancer in the foreskin. If penile cancer is advanced or at high risk of spreading, treatment may include any of the methods above or will include additional methods such as:
Surgery to remove some or all including inguinal lymph nodes if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes; Use radiation or chemotherapy to remove cancer cells from the body; Surgical removal of part or all of the penis. Most treatments for early-stage penile cancer do not affect the ability to have sex, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy can. If necessary, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about these side effects.
Scientists are looking for new ways to treat early and advanced penile cancer, testing new drugs to see if they are safe and effective. Clinical trials are often a way for people to try new drugs that are not yet available. Your doctor can let you know if one of these studies is right for you.

Men with penile cancer or suspected signs of the disease can go to Vinmec International General Hospital for examination, diagnosis and treatment. Vinmec not only provides a full range of necessary medical care services for cancer patients including: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical treatment, medical treatment, stem cell transplant...; but also help control pain with physical therapy, peripheral nerve block, sympathomimetic block,...
Besides, Vinmec gathers a team of highly specialized oncologists - radiation therapy. expertise and experience in the treatment of cancer diseases. The system of modern medical equipment, meeting international standards and professional service quality, brings high efficiency in diagnosis and treatment.
For detailed advice on penile cancer or the medical examination and treatment process at Vinmec, please go directly to Vinmec health system or register online HERE.
References: cancer.org; webmd.com