Penis

The staging of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether or not it has spread beyond its original site. Knowing the particular type and the stage of the cancer helps the doctors to decide on the best treatment for you.


* Stage 1 The cancer only affects the skin covering the penis, the head of the penis (glans) or the foreskin.


* Stage 2 The cancer has begun to spread into the shaft of the penis or into one of the lymph nodes in the groin.


* Stage 3 The cancer has spread deep into the shaft of the penis or to many lymph nodes in the groin.


* Stage 4 The cancer has spread to lymph nodes deep in the pelvis, or to other parts of the body.


If your cancer comes back after initial treatment, this is known as recurrent cancer.


Grading


Grading refers to the appearance of the cancer cells under the microscope and gives an idea of how quickly the cancer may develop. Low-grade means that the cancer cells look very like normal cells; they are usually slow-growing and are less likely to spread. In high-grade tumors, the cells look very abnormal, are likely to grow more quickly, and are more likely to spread.


Treatment


There are many types of treatment for penile cancer including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery of the penis has now advanced to a stage now where it doesn’t mean the loss of the penis. It is also possible to now reconstruct a penis that has been operated on.


The type of treatment that you are given will depend on a number of things, including the position and size of the cancer, whether or not it has spread, the grade of the cancer, and your general health.


Men with cancer of the penis should be treated in a specialist cancer center.


Surgery


Small, surface cancers that have not spread are treated by removing only the affected area. The cancer can be removed with conventional surgery, using laser or by freezing (cryotherapy). Cryotherapy is carried out with a cold probe, which freezes and kills the cancer cells.


If the cancer is affecting only the foreskin, it may be possible to treat it with circumcision alone.


All the above treatments can usually be given to you as an outpatient. They may be done under local or general anesthetic, depending on individual circumstances.


Wide local excision If the cancer has spread over a wider area, you will need to have an operation known as a wide local excision. This means removing the cancer with a border of healthy tissue around it. This border of healthy tissue is important as it reduces the risk of the cancer coming back in the future. The operation is done under general anesthetic and will involve a short stay in hospital.


Removing the penis (penectomy) This may be advised if the cancer is large and is covering a large area of the penis. Amputation may be partial (where part of the penis is removed) or total (removal of the whole penis). The operation most suitable for you depends on the position of the tumor. If the tumor is near the base of the penis, total amputation may be the only option.


The surgeon may also remove lymph nodes from the groin if there is evidence that cancer cells have spread to these nodes, or a possibility that they may have.


Re constructive surgery It is often possible to have a penis reconstructed after amputation. This requires another operation. The techniques that may be used include taking skin and muscle from your arm, and using this to make a new penis. Sometimes it is also possible for surgeons to reconnect some of the nerves, to provide sensation and the necessary blood flow to allow the reconstructed penis to become erect. This type of surgery is carried out by surgeons who have specialist experience, and you may need to travel to a specialist hospital to have the surgery done.


Radiotherapy


Radiotherapy treats cancer using high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to healthy cells. It can be used before or after surgery. Radiotherapy may also be given to treat symptoms, such as pain, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like the bones.


External radiotherapy is normally given as a series of short daily treatments in the hospital’s radiotherapy department. High-energy x-rays are directed from a machine at the area of the cancer. The treatments are usually given from Monday to Friday, with a rest at the weekend. Each treatment takes 10-15 minutes. The number of treatments will depend on the type and size of the cancer, but the whole course of treatment for early cancer will usually last for up to six weeks. Your doctor will discuss the treatment and possible side effects with you.


Before each session of radiotherapy, the radiographer will position you carefully on the couch and make sure that you are comfortable. During your treatment you will be left alone in the room, but you will be able to talk to the radiographer who will be watching you carefully from the next room.


Radiotherapy is not painful, but you do have to lie still for a few minutes while your treatment is being given. The treatment will not make you radioactive and it is perfectly safe for you to be with other people, including children, after your treatment.


Radioactive implants Radiotherapy can be given using a radioactive implant. This is also known as brachytherapy. Under a general anesthetic, small radioactive wires are very carefully positioned in the affected area of the penis. The wires stay in place for about 4-5 days and are then removed. This method of treatment is usually used for smaller cancers on the end of the penis (the glans). While the implant is in place, you need to stay in an isolated room in the hospital so that other people are not exposed unnecessarily to the radiation.


Side effects of radiotherapy


There are sometimes side effects from radiotherapy treatment to the penis. Towards the end of your treatment, the skin on your penis can become sore and may break down. Long-term, radiotherapy can cause thickening and stiffening of healthy tissues (fibrosis). In some men, this can result in narrowing of the tube that carries urine through the penis (the urethra) and so can cause difficulty in passing urine. If narrowing of the urethra does develop, it can usually be relieved by an operation to stretch (dilate) the area. This is done by passing a tube into the urethra and is performed under a general anesthetic.


Chemotherapy


Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. It can be one drug or several drugs used together. It is not commonly used to treat cancer of the penis. Chemotherapy cream may sometimes be used to treat very small, early cancers that are confined to the foreskin and end of the penis (glans).


Chemotherapy may also be given as tablets, or by injection, into a vein for more advanced cancer. It may be given along with surgery or radiotherapy (or both).

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Penis as an external sexual organ performs a vital role in sexual activity. This is the reason why the various facets of the penis become a part of various studies and research. The penis size has been the subject of discussion, debate, apprehension and insecurity. There is no doubt however, that the size of the penis is very important for men and they think about this aspect more than women.

Penis and its role in your sexual life

Penis is a sexual organ and plays a very important role in your life. There are various other aspects of the penis that play as important a role in your sexual life. These aspects include the health and hygiene of the penis. A number of people also think that the size of the penis also plays an important role in their sex life. There is a flawed thinking that the bigger the penis size, the more the sexual satisfaction for the partner. But, sexual satisfaction depends on other factors as well, which include stimulation, and the emotional aspect. It’s very important to be aware of the various problems affecting the penis. If you are aware of them, you can address these concerns, if and when they crop up.

Is penis size strictly a man’s concern?

Various surveys have pointed out to the fact that men think about the penis size and its various aspects more than women. For women, the penis size is just a small part of the overall sexual experience. The reason for this is not hard to find. It lies in the heads of the men. They have this mindset that a small sized penis will not achieve maximum sexual satisfaction. The mindset is a result of the myth largely propagated by advertisers and their likes to sell penis enlargement products. It’s important to understand that for a typical female, sex is more about emotional fulfillment than just satisfying a physical need. Another fact to note is that most men have a normal penis size. The fact that a penis is seen from above might makes it look smaller.

Effect of smoking on the penis

If you want to lead a healthy life both sexual and otherwise, cut down on your cigarettes. It would be a great idea to leave smoking altogether. A Boston University study suggests that smoking can decrease the size of the penis. The effect of smoking on the vessels of the penis is similar to the damage caused by smoking to the blood vessels of the lungs and heart with respect to elasticity. Smoking results in a constriction of these blood vessels. The penile blood vessels are much smaller than those in the heart, so their constriction could have severe consequences for the penile region, a reduction in the size of the penis being one of them. Also, smoking has been identified as one of the causes of erectile dysfunction.

Herbal pills benefits – Not just increasing penis size

One of the important benefits of herbal pills like VigRX is that they have no side effects. They are made up of completely natural ingredients, which are safe for use. Apart from showing great efficacy in terms of increasing the size of the penis, these herbal pills have other benefits, as well. Their intake also effects the penile erection, which is more long lasting and stronger. This also makes them great performance enhancing pills. Men who suffer from premature ejaculation have also reported a positive change in their condition. The overall effect of these herbal pills helps men improve and extend their sexual performance.

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Penis is one of the most important organs of the human body. It’s of paramount importance that you know about the various aspects of the penis like penis hygiene, r penis size and the various benefits and side effects of penis pumps.

Maintaining penis hygiene

If you are facing some sex health problems, the reasons might be closer to home than you initially suspect. You might not be taking proper care of your penis in terms of hygiene, which is affecting its erectile capabilities. Apart from cleaning and washing the penis other aspects of maintaining penis hygiene include:

A healthy and well-balanced diet

Nothing can take the place of a nutritious diet when it comes to maintaining the health and internal hygiene of the body. A diet rich in fibres and low on saturated fats prevents the accumulation of fatty deposits that clog arteries and reduce penile blood flow.

Quit those cigarettes

Smoking leads to a constriction of blood vessels, leading to a formation of arterial plaque. This decreases blood flow to the penis, resulting in impotence

Stay away from drugs

The intake of narcotics will put you at the risk of erectile dysfunction. Addiction to alcohol is also detrimental to the general health and the prospects of getting an erection.

Exercise and nutritional supplements

Regular exercise is the key to maintaining body health. You need to exercise for at least half an hour every day. It would also be a good idea to start off on a regular intake of nutritional supplements like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin B complex. There are also specific herbs like Ginseng, Wild Yam and Saw Palmetto that are known for their positive effect against weak erection or impotence.

Penis size and its importance for women

It seems there’s always been a debate around whether penis size is important for women. There is a debate, because there is no conclusive proof either way. There is no doubt, however, that it is men who are more obsessed about the size of their penis. Women just want the size of the penis to be adequate. Most women don’t select a partner based on the size of his penis. It’s important to not be insecure about your penis size just because you think women consider it important. Also, if you do want to enlarge your penis or increase its size, you can take the help of various devices; the penis pump being one of them.

Penis pumps – Benefits

Penis pumps bring to people suffering from erectile dysfunction various benefits.

Better erections

The suction action of penis pumps brings about an erect penis. This erection is better and can be sustained longer than the normal erection of somebody suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Increasing size of penis

The use of penis pumps has been seen to increase the size of the penis. What they do is that they actually help you use your penis size in the best possible manner. By pumping as much blood as possible into the penis, your penis becomes filled with blood and enlarges to the maximum possible size.

Pleasurable activity and makes penis more sensitive

Many men who have used penis pumps have experienced a pleasurable tingling sensation that has aroused them and which they make use of during masturbation. Also, the use of penis pumps makes the penis more sensitive.

Penis pumps – Possible side effects

If penis pumps are used by following all the instructions to the T, there is very little or no danger of side effects. If due care is not taken then the side effects could include a numbness that permeates the penis due to a lack of blood circulation. Going overboard in its usage can lead to a bruising of the penis and also leads to intense pain. Misuse of penis pumps could also lead to vascular damage.

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