Penile Cancer

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Penile cancer is essentially skin cancer located on the penis.  Fortunately this is a rare cancer in America.  Unfortunately, there is often a delay in diagnosis because the patient is ashamed or embarrassed.  Risk factors include poor hygiene, smoking, and the virus that cause penile warts (human papillomavirus).  These particular skin cancers can be very aggressive and dangerous.  Treatments depend on aggressiveness and invasiveness of the cancer.  Treatments include simple excision of the lesion, circumcision, removing a portion of the penis and removing the entire penis.  Radiation and chemotherapy can be used but responses are typically poor.