Treatment for penile cancer

Surgery to remove the foreskin can be done under local or general anaesthetic. This surgery is called circumcision. You may be able to go home on the same day.

Laser therapy uses heat to destroy the cancer cells.

Your surgeon uses a powerful beam of light to burn away abnormal cells. But they do not go too deep into the tissue. You usually have this treatment in the hospital outpatient department under a general anaesthetic.

It may take 2 to 3 months for your penis to heal completely after treatment.

It may be possible to remove Tis by freezing the abnormal cells. This is called cryotherapy. Your doctor uses a probe with liquid nitrogen to freeze the affected area. Afterwards the area usually forms a blister, which will dry and form a scab. The scab usually drops off after about 1 or 2 weeks.

Tis can be treated with cream containing a chemotherapy drug called fluorouracil (5FU). You apply the cream to the affected area on the penis. This does not cause the side effects people usually have with chemotherapy into a vein. Your nurse will show you how to apply the cream and use it safely.

The cream may irritate the skin in the area or make it sore. But it will not cause side effects in other parts of the body.

A type of cream called imiquimod (Aldara^®) can be used to treat Tis. It works by stimulating your immune system to destroy the cancer cells. Your doctor, nurse or a pharmacist will give you the cream to use at home. They will explain how to put it on and how often to use it. It is important to follow the advice they give you. Treatment is usually applied for 4 to 6 weeks.

Some people feel a burning or tender feeling in the area being treated. This is most common at the start of treatment. You may have some redness or crusting of the skin during the treatment. But there should be no permanent scarring. If the skin reaction is very strong, your doctor may give you a steroid cream to help. It is normal for redness and some crusting to continue for about 2 weeks after the treatment has finished.

Occasionally, the immunotherapy cream may cause shivers and other flu-like symptoms. If this happens, tell your doctor or specialist nurse. They may advise you to stop using it.

Surgery is the main treatment for cancers of the penis that are larger. Surgical techniques have improved over time. It is usually possible to keep the appearance of the penis. 

You may still be able to have erections after surgery that preserves the penis. Sometimes, part, or all, of the penis needs to be removed with surgery. It may be possible to have surgery to reconstruct the penis later.

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is sometimes given before surgery, to shrink the tumour and make it easier to remove. It can also be given after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Or it can be used to control the cancer if it has spread to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy can cause side effects. The side effects you get will depend on the chemotherapy drugs you are having. Different drugs cause different side effects.

We have more information about possible side effects of chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. 

Not everyone who has penile cancer will have radiotherapy. Sometimes, it is used instead of chemotherapy or surgery. This is usually if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Radiotherapy may be given after surgery to remove lymph nodes in the groin. This is to reduce the risk of cancer coming back in this area. 

Radiotherapy can cause side effects. The skin on the penis and groin may redden or get darker. It may become dry, flaky and itchy. Towards the end of treatment, your skin may become moist and sore. Your radiographer or nurse will talk to you about how to care for your skin. The hair around the genital area may fall out. The penis and scrotum area may become swollen, but this should improve.

We have more information about possible side effects of radiotherapy.

You may have chemotherapy at the same time as radiotherapy to make it work better. This is called chemoradiation.