Lack of hygiene can cause penile cancer; learn how to identify this and other diseases in the organ – 02/14/2023 – Health

In 2022, Brazil recorded 1,933 cases of penile cancer and 459 amputations. These alarming numbers were released at the beginning of February by the Brazilian Society of Urology and the Ministry of Health – and draw attention to men’s health, which is often neglected.

“It’s one of the only cancers that can be avoided. Men should clean the glans twice a day with soap and water and use a condom,” says José de Ribamar Rodrigues Calixto, supervisor of the Penis Cancer discipline at the Department of Uro -oncology of the Brazilian Society of Urology.

Considered a rare tumor, this type of cancer could be easily fought with effective hygiene measures and efficient public policies. According to specialists interviewed by the BBC News Brasil report, what draws the most attention is that the disease is affecting more and more young men.

“The age at which these lesions appear in our country are in young men, aged 28 to 35 years, mainly in the North and Northeast. In the 80’s, they were men aged 60 years or more”, warns the SBU professional.

And it’s not just cancer. Other inflammatory and infectious diseases can reach the penis and deserve attention. Many of them can be avoided with frequent use of condoms, in addition to visits and routine tests with a specialist doctor. Below we explain each of them.

PENIS CANCER

The disease occurs mainly due to lack of hygiene and contamination by the HPV virus. According to data from the Ministry of Health, in the country, penile cancer is more common in the North and Northeast regions, which represents 2% of all types of cancer that affect men.

Men who have not undergone circumcision, surgery to remove the foreskin that covers the glans penis, are more likely to develop the problem, as the secretion called smegma, similar to white wax, is not properly removed, increasing the risk of contamination. .

The tumor can appear through wounds or nodules and is accompanied by persistent inflammation, which may or may not come with tissue necrosis, with pus, bleeding and a fetid smell. It starts with a simple redness or small wound, similar to a pinhead.

Early diagnosis helps in combating the disease and provides a greater chance of cure. In addition, it avoids partial and total amputations of the genital organ, since in an advanced stage the disease compromises the entire penis and can even progress to metastasis.

At the beginning of the disease, where there are small lesions, it is possible to remove them through cauterization, laser and creams without compromising the limb. This type of cancer can also generate lymph nodes and give rise to ganglia in the groin, which are similar to lumps. In that case, one third or all of the penis needs to be removed.

When the condition evolves to more serious and the genital organ is already completely contaminated, specialists opt for the total amputation of the member. After the procedure, the patient will not have a normal sexual and urinary life. To pee, doctors create an opening of the urethra in the perineum and the man starts to urinate sitting down.

According to Calixto, the big problem that prevents the prevention of this disease is the lack of access to education. “Public health falls short. You can only have a consultation a year from now and the government encourages vaccination against HPV very little. In addition, reference centers for STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are counted on the finger. The State has to take over. These are lacks of public policies”, warns Calixto.

To prevent the disease, the ideal is that the patient removes the phimosis, performs a good hygiene of the penis and, when a child, is vaccinated against HPV.

BALANOPOSTITIS

Balanoposthitis is an inflammation of the skin of the foreskin. It is usually caused by the fungus candida albicanswhich is the same responsible for candidiasis in women.

Men who did not undergo surgery to remove phimosis may suffer more from the problem, as this part of the penis ends up becoming wetter and warmer, favoring the appearance of fungi.

To avoid the disease, the ideal is that the intimate region is very dry and always fresh. “We even recommend using a hair dryer. Remove excess with a bath towel and use cold air”, says Fernando Meyer, urologist and professor at the School of Medicine and Life Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná ( PUCPR).

It can also be caused by an irritating process in the region through the latex of the condom or other components. It is recommended that men use condoms that are hypoallergenic.

Treatment includes the use of ointments, antifungal creams, leaving the area clean and dry. It is also recommended to avoid tight clothes and excessive consumption of sweets, as sugar can be eliminated in the urine, further facilitating the appearance of fungi.

PEYRONIE’S DISEASE

Peyronie’s disease, which can appear from the age of 50, presents itself as a calcification of the penis, which causes a curvature of the penis during erection.

“It is a plaque of fibrosis that occurs in the corpora cavernosa (internal spongy tissue) of the penis responsible for the erection, which can cause pain and make penetration difficult”, explains Meyer, who is also a member of the American Association of Urology (AUA),

Peyronie’s disease, also known as penile curvature, has no apparent cause and can leave the penis with microtraumas. In some cases, the organ can even bend up to 90 degrees.

Generally, doctors wait 12 to 18 months for the curve to disappear on its own and, when this does not happen, they opt for surgery and even penile prosthesis.

PHIMOSIS

It is characterized by excess skin covering the penis, so that the head, also known as the glans, is not exposed.

When it appears in childhood, the pediatrician begins to observe the condition and indicate treatments such as corticoid-based ointments, making it easier for the skin to slide over the glans. Retraction exercises may also be indicated for boys over five years old.

When these measures do not work, specialists may recommend postectomy, which is a surgical intervention to remove the foreskin.

Even though it’s common when you’re a baby, the condition can also develop in adulthood, caused by an infection or trauma to the site.

PARAPHIMOSIS

It’s an inflammatory disease and occurs when the man pulls the skin of the penis down and it can’t get back into place. When this occurs, the region tends to swell excessively, generating the risk of necrosis.

It is a painful situation and, in some cases, it is possible to use manual movements to return the skin to its place. “You have to use a little force and a maneuver to get it back into place with the thumb pushing outwards”, says Mark Neumaier, urologist at Hospital Marcelino Champagnat, in Curitiba (PR).

However, when reversal is not possible by hand, emergency surgery is required.

PRIAPISM

It is a prolonged erection, which can last for more than four hours. In extreme cases, it can reach 36 hours. The problem generates pain, discomfort and is unintentional.

The cause may be multifactorial. Priapism can occur with the use of some medications such as antidepressants and sexual stimulants such as Viagra. Other causes are trauma to the pelvic region, some types of cancer, such as leukemia, and hematological disorders, such as that caused by sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic mutation that leads to changes in red blood cells that, instead of being in their normal shape, are in the shape of a sickle (hence the name “sickle cell”). This increases blood clotting, causing thromboembolic events and priapism.

Patients who have erectile dysfunction and do not respond well to oral medications such as Viagra and others often need to be treated with injections into the penis (intracavernous calls) of vasodilator medications. They serve to dilate the corpora cavernosa, facilitating the entry of blood and, subsequently, erection.

Mistakes in dosage or administration can cause priapism to the point where the penis needs to be surgically drained. The surgery is performed through a “connection” between the corpora cavernosa of the penis and the corpus spongiosum to drain this blood.

“These incorrect injections and doses can cause trauma”, highlights the PUCPR urologist.

In less severe cases, treatment of priapism consists of injecting substances such as adrenaline into the penis and placing ice on the site.

HPV

This STI occurs through the human papilloma virus. HPV causes warts in the genital, oral and anal region. The main means of contagion is through sex, which can be oral-genital, genital-genital or even manual-genital contact.

To avoid contamination, you should use condoms and also vaccination against HPV, available in the Unified Health System (SUS) for girls and boys up to 14 years old.

HERPES

It is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a virus that exists in types 1 and 2.

In the first case, the appearance of “bubbles” is more common in the oral region. Already in type 2, symptoms may appear in the genital region.

Treatment includes the use of ointments, pills and not sharing objects

SYPHILIS

The infection is caused by bacteria Treponema pallidum, which can affect the genitals, throat and mouth. It can be transmitted both in oral sex and penetration. It is not exclusive to the penis, but it can manifest in the genital organ and appear in the mouth. This IST has its main presentations in the primary, secondary and tertiary form.

By sexual contact it is possible to cause lesions on the penis, which is called “hard chancre”. Because it is painless, the patient may not treat it, leaving the bacterial agent incubated and the disease may progress to a more serious form, which is secondary syphilis. This is characterized by more systemic symptoms and occurs a few weeks after contamination of the first type. The individual may have spots on the skin and prostrations.

After a few years, it can still evolve into the tertiary format, which causes neurological and cardiac alterations.

Treatment takes place with antibiotics and to avoid contamination condoms should be used.