FCecon campaign to prevent and combat penile cancer warns about hygiene

care

According to a urologist at FCecon, penile cancer is more prevalent in the North and Northeast regions of the country

Manaus (AM) – Washing the penis well with soap and water can save the lives of many men, warns the urologist at the Amazonas State Oncology Control Center Foundation (FCecon), Giuseppe Figliuolo, during the Campaign to Prevent and Combat Penile Cancer , which takes place throughout the month of February.

With the theme ‘Take care! You only have one”, the campaign was launched by the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU) and aims to raise awareness among the population about the importance of preventing penile cancer.

At FCecon, it is estimated that 25 men with advanced stage penile cancer will be treated each year.

According to Figliuolo, penile cancer is more prevalent in the North and Northeast regions of the country, with the main risk factor being lack of hygiene.

“Many men do not clean their penis properly, especially those with phimosis – the skin that covers the glans. The skin prevents the externalization of the glans and, therefore, hygiene”, he emphasizes.

Lack of hygiene, warns the specialist doctor, causes the accumulation of secretion that can cause a chronic inflammatory process. “This clinical picture, associated with other risk factors, such as high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), multiple sexual partners and smoking, can lead to the development of cancer”, he warns.

Penile cancer is a relatively rare condition, according to the specialist doctor, with untreated phimosis, advanced age, as well as genetic and socioeconomic factors also being risk factors.

Signs and symptoms

Generally, the disease manifests itself through wounds that do not heal, secretion with a strong odor, thickening or change of color in the skin of the glans, in addition to the presence of nodules in the groin.

Care

To prevent the onset of the disease, it is necessary to avoid tobacco consumption, perform regular physical activities, prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and maintain good hygiene habits. The specialist doctor warns that the HPV vaccine helps prevent this type of cancer.

Treatment

Penile cancer treatment consists of removing the lesion using the following methods, depending on the stage of the disease and the patient’s profile: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, in cases where the injury is very invasive, amputation of part or the entire organ may be necessary.

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