Carcinoma of the penis medical therapy

The predominant therapy for carcinoma of the penis is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy may be required.

Radiation therapy^[1]

• Radiation therapy may be used in men who wish to preserve the penis.
• Radiation therapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumour.
• Radiation therapy may be given after surgery to destroy cancer cells left behind and to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.
• Radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.
• External beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy are the 2 main types of radiation therapy used to treat penile cancer.
• Brachytherapy is used most often for the treatment of carcinoma of penis that are less than 4 cm.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy may be used with or without radiation therapy when the cancer cannot be removed by surgery.
• It may be given before surgery to shrink a tumour.
• It may be given after surgery to destroy cancer cells left behind and to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.
• Chemotherapy may be used to relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.
• Both topical chemotherapy and systemic chemotherapy are used to treat carcinoma of penis.
• Topical chemotherapy is used for the treatment of carcinoma in situ.

Biological therapy

• Biological therapy uses natural or manufactured substances to kill, control, or change the behaviour of cancer cells.
• Biological therapy may be used to treat:

• Precancerous conditions of the penis
• Carcinoma in situ

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