Cases of penile cancer in the United States are rare, but the recent case of a Kentucky man that had his penis surgically removed is causing many to discuss risk factors and prevention for the disease. According to CBS News, the diagnosis is tricky and the disease kills about a quarter of men who have it.
When Philip Seaton went in for surgery in 2007, he was unaware he had cancer. His doctor recognized the disease and removed parts of his penis. The rest of the organ was later removed by another doctor. And while Seaton and his wife claim the amputation caused “loss of service, love and affection,” Dr. John Patterson said it saved Seaton’s life.
According to CBS, a diagnosis of penile cancer can be “emotionally devastating.” Part of the problem in treating it revolves around the fact that half of men who have cancer are too embarrassed to see a doctor. The delay allows the cancer to spread, and according to the American Cancer Society, nearly 24 percent of men who develop the disease will die from it.
Cancer of the penis is caused when malignant cells begin to grow in the tissue of the organ, MedicineNet.com said. Risk factors include being age 60 or older, having phimosis (a condition in which the foreskin is pulled back over the glans), having poor personal hygiene and having many sexual partners. Tobacco products also increase a man’s risk for developing the disease.
