Penile cancer starts in cells in the penis. The penis is part of the external male genitals and contains many types of tissue, including skin, nerves, smooth muscle, and blood vessels. Specific treatment for penile cancer is based on several factors including your overall health and medical history, whether cancer spread from the mucosa into other tissues, and other individual factors.
Types of Penile Cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma
About 95 percent of penile cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This cancer begins in the flat skin cells (squamous cells) of the penis, usually on the foreskin or on the tip of the penis (glans). Squamous cell penile cancer grows slowly and can be cured if found early.
Melanoma
Melanomas occur in skin that was over-exposed to the sun. They can occur in other spots, such as on the penis. Just a small percentage of penile cancers are melanomas.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell is another kind of skin cancer that can impact the penis. It too makes up just a small percentage of all cases of penile cancer. It is slow-growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
Adenocarcinoma (Paget disease of the penis)
This is a rare type of penile cancer. It can develop from sweat glands in the skin of the penis.
Sarcoma
Sarcomas are a small portion of penile cancers. They develop from smooth muscle, blood vessels, or other connective tissue cells within the penis.
Why Choose Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center?
Sylvester is an NCI-designated cancer center. The National Cancer Institute has recognized Sylvester for its outstanding work conducting research in its laboratories, treating patients in its clinics and hospitals, and reaching out to medically underserved communities with innovative prevention strategies.
Advanced radiation oncology tools. Sylvester is one of only five medical centers in the country with ViewRay™ — MRI-guided radiation therapy. Our RapidArc® radiotherapy system delivers intensity modulated external radiation therapy (IMRT). These tools lead to more efficient and effective treatments, shorter treatment times, pinpoint accuracy in tumor targeting, and less damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
More cancer clinical trials than any other South Florida hospital. If appropriate for your cancer and stage, our clinical trials provide you with easy access to the very newest ways to treat and potentially cure your cancer.
The only designated Cancer Center of Excellence in South Florida. We treat cancer, and only cancer, giving you the best potential outcomes. The likelihood of surviving cancer after five years at a Dedicated Cancer Center is 17 percent higher than at other hospitals.
Multidisciplinary care teams with nationally recognized expertise. Your care team is made up of experts in all aspects of your exact type of cancer. All of your physicians, nurses, and more collaborate to save lives.
Imaging expertise using the most advanced technology available. Our providers’ expertise allows them to distinguish between normal and abnormal findings and work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan for the right diagnosis.