Overview

Cancer begins when normal cells begin to change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous, meaning it can spread to other parts of the body). Penile cancer is a rare form of cancer that occurs mostly in uncircumcised men (men with the foreskin, a piece of skin covering the head of their penis, intact).

The penis is the external genital organ of a man and consists of three chambers of spongy tissue that contain multiple blood vessels, nerves, and smooth muscle. The corpora cavernosa make up two of the chambers and are located on both sides of the upper part of the penis. The corpus spongiosum is located below the corpora cavernosa and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine and semen exit the body at an opening called the meatus. At the tip of the penis, the corpora cavernosa expands to form the “helmet”, or glans.

There are several types of penile cancer, including:

Epidermoid/squamous cell carcinoma. Ninety-five percent (95%) of penile cancer is epidermoid, or squamous cell, carcinoma. This means that, under a microscope, the cells resemble the tissues that make up skin. When cancer begins in squamous cells, it is called non-melanoma skin cancer and it can develop anywhere on the penis; most develop on or under the foreskin. When found at an early stage, epidermoid carcinoma can usually be cured.

Basal cell penile cancer. Under the squamous cells in the lower epidermis (one of the layers of the skin tissues that cover the penis) are round cells known as basal cells. These can occasionally become cancerous. This is also called non-melanoma skin cancer. Less than 2% of penile cancers are basal cell cancers.

Melanoma. The deepest layer of the epidermis contains scattered cells called melanocytes, which produce the melanin that gives skin color. Melanoma starts in melanocytes, and it is the most serious of the skin cancer types. This cancer occasionally occurs on the surface of the penis. Read the Guide to Melanoma for more information.

Sarcoma. About 1% of penile cancers are sarcomas, which are cancers that develop in the tissues that support and connect the body, such as blood vessels, smooth muscle, and fat. For more information, read the Guide to Sarcoma.

Find out more about basic cancer terms used in this section.