Penile cancer cases and amputations are rising at an “alarming rate” – and will rise by 77% over the next 30 years, experts warn

CASES of penile cancer and amputations have increased at an “alarming rate” across the world.

And they are predicted to rise further, with experts warning that cases could rise by 77 percent in next 30 years.

Penile cancer is a rare type of disease that most commonly affects men over 50 years of age.

Symptoms of penile cancer often begin with a sore on the penis that won’t heal and a strong-smelling discharge.

Some people also experience bleeding and changes in the color of the penis.

When detected early, cancer is more easily treatable and there is a high chance of recovery.

But if left untreated, part or all of the penis, as well as nearby genitals such as the testicles, may need to be amputated.

Total penectomy, as the procedure is called, is only performed if the cancer cells have penetrated deeply into the penis or if the cancer is at the base of the penis.

According to Cancer Research UK, around 760 cases of cancer are diagnosed in the UK every year.

Researchers at Sun Yat-Sen University in China analyzed cases and deaths from penile cancer around the world, analyzing data collected between 1973 and 2012 from 44 populations in 43 different countries.

“Estimates suggest that 13,211 men with penile cancer died in 2020 worldwide,” researchers wrote in the study published in JMIR Publications.

Around 36,068 new cases were also recorded across the world that same year, they added.

The highest number of penile cancer deaths occurred in India (4,760), China (1,565) and Brazil (539) in 2020.

The research team observed an increase in the incidence of penile cancer in 15 countries.

This “significant increasing trend” in penile cancer cases has been observed in “most European countries” – such as Lithuania, Norway, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Cyprus, Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Slovakia, Russia, Czech Republic – during the study period, “especially in Northern Europe”.

The United Kingdom was also among the countries that recorded an increase in the number of cases, with researchers writing: “There was a 21 percent increase, from 1.1 to 1.3 per 100,000, in the incidence of penile cancer in England between 1979 and 2009”.

Cases in Germany also increased by 50% between 1961 and 2012, according to the study.

One of the highest incidence rates was recorded in Brazil, where 2.1 in every 100,000 men developed penile cancer.

O BBC recently reported that 21,000 cases of penile cancer were detected in the country, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

This has resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and, in the last decade, more than 6,500 amputations – an average of two per day.

“Although developing countries still have the highest incidence and mortality of penile cancer, the incidence is increasing in most European countries,” Sun Yat-Sen University wrote.

“To mitigate the disease burden resulting from penile cancer, measures may be needed to reduce the risk of penile cancer, including improving penile hygiene and male human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination,” they added.

HPV is the name of a very common group of viruses that do not cause problems in most people, but infection with some types can result in genital warts or cancer.

HPV can be transmitted through sex, as well as skin-to-skin contact in the genital area and sharing sex toys.

High-risk HPV-associated cancers include:

• Cervical cancer
• Anal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Vulvar cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Some types of head and neck cancer

The researchers noted: “The penile cancer incidence trend observed in this study is similar to other long-standing HPV-related cancers, such as vulvar cancer and anal cancer.

“Currently, routine HPV vaccination in boys and men is implemented in several countries, such as Australia, Canada, the United States and Austria.

“Vaccinating boys and men can further reduce the incidence of penile cancer, anal cancer and head and neck cancer; Furthermore, it can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and its precursors through livestock protection.

“Expanding the benefits of HPV vaccination in boys and men in countries with a high burden of HPV infection should be evaluated as soon as possible.”

But they noted that more research is needed to explain regional differences in penile cancer rates.

“As a large proportion of penile cancer is attributable to HPV, the effectiveness of HPV vaccines in high-risk groups should be assessed as quickly as possible.

“Future Research should also continue to explore the association of risk factors with the prognosis in patients with penile cancer and monitor the evolution of the incidence and survival of this cancer”.