Penile Cancer: Cameroonian Urologist warns of high prevalence rate among men

By Shanta Sih

Dr. Nwaha Makon Stephane Axel is a medical expert working with the Laquintinie hospital in Douala. Invited as a guest on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at Douala-based Equinoxe television channel, the expert said Penile Cancer is being neglected in society, but it is creeping deep and silently destroying lives.

According to him, Penile cancer, or cancer of the penis, is a relatively rare form of cancer that affects the skin and tissues of the penis. It occurs when normally healthy cells in the penis become cancerous and begin to grow out of control, forming a tumor.

He stated that cancer may eventually spread to other areas of the body, including the glands, other organs, and lymph nodes.

The Urologist advised men that whenever they notice anything strange on their penis, they should immediately see a doctor immediately.

“Multiple sex partners and poor hygiene is the greatest cause, most of our patients have multiple sex partners and do not wash their penis properly after sex, washing your penis after sex stops the majority of bacteria,” he said during an interview.

The expert said some signs and symptoms include; starting as a blister on the foreskin, head, or shaft of the penis. It may become a wart-like growth that discharges blood or foul-smelling liquid. He added that itching, burning discharge, changes in the color of the penis, thickening of the penile skin, bleeding, redness, and irritation, are other symptoms.

People with uncircumcised penises are more likely trusted sources to develop penile cancer, he said. Adding that it is because people with uncircumcised penises are at risk of other conditions that affect the penis, such as phimosis and smegma. Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin becomes tight and difficult to retract. People with phimosis have a high risk of developing smegma.

Smegma is a substance that forms when dead skin cells, moisture, and oil collect underneath the foreskin. It may also develop if the area under the foreskin is not cleaned properly, which can cause inflammation”.

Vulnerable people who can have penile cancer include, those above 60 years, smokers, those who do not clean the area under the foreskin properly, those living in a region with poor sanitation and hygiene practices, those with sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as the human papillomavirus (HPV)

Online sources add that most people suffering from penile cancer are often in rural areas.