What Is Penile Cancer?

The penis is the external male genitalia. It contains many types of tissue, including skin, nerves, and blood vessels. The urethra, the tube through which urine and semen leave the body, is inside the penis. The tip of the penis is called the glans. The foreskin covers the glans. Every male has a foreskin at birth. Circumcision is the removal of part or the entire foreskin on the penis at birth or later on in life.

Penile cancer is rarely found in men in the United States. Although there are different types of penile cancer, about 95% are squamous cell carcinoma. This means they begin in the flat skin cells of the penis, called squamous cells.

Most squamous cell penile cancers begin on the foreskin or on the glans. Squamous cell penile cancer is slow-growing and can usually be cured if found early.

Penile cancer expertise

Penile cancer is a rare cancer that should be treated by doctors with expertise in urologic oncology. Our doctors at Stanford Cancer Center offer sophisticated diagnostics, extensive surgical and micro-surgical expertise, advanced radiation therapy, and compassionate, personalized care for patients with penile cancer.

We work closely with you to develop an optimal treatment plan that provides the best chances for a successful outcome with the least impact on your body.

Program highlights:

• Advanced imaging capabilities
• Multidisciplinary tumor board, including medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, who review patient records, imaging and pathologic specimens, and provide a comprehensive treatment recommendation.
• Surgical expertise, including nerve- and organ-sparing procedures
• Topical and systemic chemotherapies
• Clinical trials
• Urologic cancer support group meetings, including lectures on state-of-the-art treatments and clinical trials, as well as interactive patient/doctor panel discussions.