SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE PENIS: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TREATMENT

Penile cancer, although relatively rare in the Western world, remains a disease with significant morbidity and mortality, not to mention significant psychological consequences. In addition, the disease is observed with dramatically increased frequency in other parts of the world. Risk factors for penile cancer include lack of circumcision in childhood, phimosis, chronic inflammation, poor penile hygiene, smoking, immunosuppression, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Localized and advanced penile cancer and its treatment have profound physical and psychosexual impacts on the quality of life of patients and survivors, altering sexual and urinary function and causing lymphedema. Public health interventions such as the prophylactic use of circumcision have been successful but are controversia