In Stage I, malignant cells are found only on the surface of the head (glans) of the penis.

In Stage II, the penile cancer has spread to the surface of the glans, tissues beneath the surface, and the shaft of the penis.

In Stage III, malignant cells have spread to lymph nodes in the groin, where they cause swelling.

In Stage IV, the disease has spread throughout the penis and lymph nodes in the groin, or has traveled to other parts of the body.

Recurrent penile cancer is disease that recurs in the penis or develops in another part of the body after treatment has eradicated the original cancer cells.

Treatment

Surgery and radiation therapy

Amputation of all or part of the penis (total or partial penectomy) is the most common and most effective treatment. If the disease is diagnosed early enough, surgeons are often able to preserve enough of the organ for urination and sexual activity.

Wide local excision is a form of surgery that removes only cancer cells and a small amount of normal tissue adjacent to them. Microsurgery removes cancerous tissue and the smallest possible amount of normal tissue. During microsurgery, the doctor uses a special instrument that provides a comprehensive view of the area where cancer cells are located and makes it possible to determine that all malignant cells have been removed. Laser surgery uses an intense precisely focused beam of light to dissolve or burn away cancer cells.

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