Penile cancer is an incredibly rare form of cancer, affecting one out of every 100,000 males. If it is diagnosed early, penile cancer is generally a curable disease.

As with most forms of cancer, penile cancer is typically diagnosed using a biopsy. A biopsy is when a doctor removes cells or tissue from a specified part of the body (in this case the penis). After the cells or tissues are biopsied, they are then examined in a laboratory for cancerous developments.

Before performing a biopsy, a doctor will also perform a physical exam and an evaluation of the patient’s medical history.

Tests

The only tests that a doctor will perform to diagnose penile cancer are the physical examination and the biopsy. The physical exam will involve checking the penis for lumps, unusual coloring, unusual discharge, and bleeding around the area. The biopsy will typically involve the insertion of a fine needle into the penis. Cells will be extracted via the needle’s syringe and sent to a laboratory for further examination.

If the biopsy comes back positive, then cancer has developed in the penis and the doctor should determine the staging of the cancer. To stage the cancer, a doctor will recommend a series of imaging tests to find out if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Penile cancer imaging tests include CT scan, MRI, and Ultrasound.

Staging Penile Cancer

Staging helps determine how to treat the cancer. The CT scan, the MRI, and the Ultrasound will help to pinpoint whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the penis, other areas of the groin, or other areas of the body altogether.

Stages of Penile Cancer

Five stages are used to describe penile cancer. The stages of penile cancer are:

Stage 0: this is when abnormal cells are found on the surface of the skin of the penis. They aren’t necessarily cancerous but could develop into cancer over a period of time. This is known as carcinoma in situ.
Stage I: in this stage the cancer has formed and has spread to tissue just under the skin of the penis.
Stage II: in this stage the cancer has spread to tissue under the skin of the penis and to one lymph node in the groin or has spread to the erectile tissue of the penis.
Stage III: in this stage the cancer has spread to connective tissue under the skin or erectile tissue of the penis and to more than one lymph node in the groin or it has spread to the urethra or prostate.
Stage IV:in this stage the cancer has spread to tissues throughout the penis, to more than one lymph node in the groin, and to other areas of the body.