Penile Cancer: the importance of Prevention

Abstract

Although rare in developed countries (0.2 cases cases/100 000 men) (1), penile cancer (PC) is com-mon in underdeveloped countries. In Brazil, Paraguai, Angola and India, the incidence of PC varies from 2.3 to 8.3 cases/100 000 men) (2,3). In Brazil annually around 1000 penile amputations are reported. In some Brazilian regions, prevalence of PC is similar to prostate cancer, affecting young males (3.53% < 26 years; 3.88% 27 - 35 years, 12% 36- 45 years and 18.7% 46 - 55 years old) (4). In a strict epidemiological and bureaucratic point of view, the health authorities of those coun-tries don’t consider PC a public health problem in view of several other more prevalent diseases. Apart from epidemiological and statistical data, we disagree and believe that PC prevention is imperious in these nations. When dealing with the humanitarian and clinical aspects of PC, we conclude that the medical and scientific community such as the urological society and government agencies must pay attention to this disease:- PC when diagnosed and treated precociously is highly curable and with low toxicity. When treated in more advanced phases, its treatment is costly and with bad outcome (3).- Primary lesion treatment, even conservative, involves some degree of genital mutilation, with sensitivity alterations and even total loss of the ability for sexual activity. Amputations may also compro-mise self-esteem and corporal image, difficult or avoid orthostatic micturition, result in loss of masculinity (in a society centered in the phallus) and may also result in urethral strictures.- There are very few studies about the delayed sequelae of inguinal iliac lymphadenectomies: lymphoceles and repeated erysipela. Very few studies are available regarding treatment of lower limb chronic lymphedema. Usually this condition prevents labor and sports activities. There is no definite cure for genital edema.