The penis is the external male sexual organ, as well as part of the urinary system. It contains several types of tissue, including skin, nerves, smooth muscle, and blood vessels.
The main part of the penis is known as the shaft, and the head of the penis is called the glans. At birth, the glans is covered by a piece of skin called the foreskin, or prepuce. The foreskin is often removed in infant boys in an operation called a circumcision.
Inside the penis are 3 chambers that contain a soft, spongy network of blood vessels. Two of these cylinder-shaped chambers, known as the corpora cavernosa, lie on either side of the upper part of the penis. The third lies below them and is known as the corpus spongiosum. This chamber widens at its end to form the glans. The corpus spongiosum surrounds the urethra, a thin tube that starts at the bladder and runs through the penis. Urine and semen travel through the urethra and leave the body through an opening in the glans of the penis, called the meatus.
When a man gets an erection, nerves signal to his body to store blood in the vessels inside the corpora cavernosa. As the blood fills the chambers, the spongy tissue expands, causing the penis to elongate and stiffen. After ejaculation, the blood flows back into the body, and the penis becomes soft again.
Semen is made up of fluid produced by the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles (2 small sacs near the bladder and prostate), plus sperm cells that are made in the testicles. It is stored in the seminal vesicles. During ejaculation, semen passes into the urethra and out the meatus at the tip of the penis.
Benign conditions of the penis
It is important to be aware of what is normal for you and report any changes to your doctor. Penile cancer symptoms may include
These symptoms do not always mean you have penile cancer. They may be symptoms of other medical conditions, such as sexually transmitted diseases.
If you have advanced penile cancer you may have other symptoms including swollen lymph nodes in your groin, tiredness, pain in your abdomen (tummy) or bones and weight loss.
Men are often embarrassed or frightened by symptoms and may put off going to their doctor until their cancer is more advanced. It is important to report any symptoms to your doctor straight away.
In cancer care, different types of doctors often work together to create a patient's overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. This is called a multidisciplinary team. For penile cancer, this team often includes a surgeon, a urologist (a doctor who specializes in urinary tract problems), a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist.
Descriptions of these common treatment options are listed below. Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patient's preferences and overall health. The most common treatment options for penile cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Laser therapy is also used for early-stage cancers.
Men with penile cancer may have concerns about how their treatment will affect their sexual function and fertility, and these topics should be discussed with their doctor before treatment begins. Sometimes, more than one treatment option is available.
