Carcinoma of the penis medical therapy
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Carcinoma of the penis Microchapters |
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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Joel Gelman, M.D. [2], Director of the Center for Reconstructive Urology and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Urology at the University of California,Irvine
Overview
The predominant therapy for penile cancer is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy may be required.
Medical Therapy
Radiation therapy
- Radiation therapy may be used in men who wish to preserve the penis.
- It may be given before surgery to shrink the tumour.
- It may be given after surgery to destroy cancer cells left behind and to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.
- Radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.
- External beam radiation and brachytherapy are the 2 main types of radiation therapy used to treat penile cancer.
- Brachytherapy is used most often for tumours less than 4 cm.
Chemotherapy Chemotherapy may be used with or without radiation therapy when the cancer cannot be removed by surgery. It may be given before surgery to shrink a tumour. It may be given after surgery to destroy cancer cells left behind and to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring. Chemotherapy may be used to relieve symptoms of advanced cancer. Both topical chemotherapy and systemic chemotherapy are used to treat penile cancer. Topical chemotherapy is used for very early stage penile cancer (carcinoma in situ).
Biological therapy
- Biological therapy uses natural or manufactured substances to kill, control or change the behaviour of cancer cells.
- Biological therapy may be used to treat:
- Precancerous conditions] of the penis
- Carcinoma in situ