Penile cancer
The penis is the male sex organ. It is part of the urinary and reproductive system in the body. It has a tube called the urethra that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body and carries semen (sperm) from the testicles.
The root is the base of the penis and is inside the body. From here it extends to the outside. It hangs in front of a pouch of skin called the scrotum. The scrotum holds both testicles.
The parts of the penis are the:
head of the penis (glans)
body or shaft
foreskin, a moveable layer of skin that covers the tip of the penis (glans)
frenulum, a small tag of skin on the underside of the penis, between the foreskin and the shaft
Some men have an operation called a circumcision to remove the foreskin.
Different types of tissue including skin, muscle and nerves make up the penis. It has a rich blood supply. When sexually aroused, blood flow to the penis increases. Columns of special muscle tissue in the body of the penis (erectile tissue) fill up with blood. This causes an during sexual activity.
This diagram shows the parts of the penis.
This video shows you the different parts of the male reproductive system. It lasts for 1 minute and forty seconds.
Lymph nodes, or lymph glands are small, bean shaped glands that make up part of the lymphatic system. They are all over the body, including in the pelvis. If penile cancer spreads it is most likely to be in the lymph nodes close to the penis in either .
Cancer can develop anywhere on the penis but most commonly develops under the foreskin in men who haven’t been circumcised, or on the head or tip of the penis (glans).
The type of penile cancer depends on the type of cell it starts in.
Find out about the types of penile cancer
Most men diagnosed with penile cancer are older than 50. On average each year only 3 out of 100 (3%) new cases occur in men under 40.
The exact cause of penile cancer is not known but there are several risk factors including:
human papillomavirus (HPV) – this is a common infection and it does not mean you will develop cancer of the penis
smoking
Find out more about risks and causes of penile cancer
Cancer of the penis is rare. Around 760 men are diagnosed each year in the UK. That’s around 2 cases diagnosed every day.
Last reviewed: 15 Dec 2023
Next review due: 15 Dec 2026
Some factors might increase your risk of developing penile cancer. These include the human papillomavirus (HPV), your age and having a tight foreskin (phimosis).
Symptoms of penile cancer can include a growth or sore on your penis, bleeding or a foul smelling discharge.
The type of penile cancer tells you which type of cell the cancer started in. The most common type is squamous cell cancer.
The stage, type and grade of your cancer helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.
Treatments for penile cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The treatment you have depends on the stage and type of your penile cancer.
Penile cancer is cancer of the penis. It can develop anywhere on the penis but is most common under the foreskin in men who haven’t been circumcised or on the head of the penis (the glans).
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