Penis Cancer
Cancer of the penis is a rare male genital cancer. The diagnosis, however, is devastating. There are only about 400 new cases of penile cancer per year in the UK. Mr Minhas has published extensively in this area and is Supra-regional Chairman of Penile Cancer Services at University College Hospital.
When a diagnosis of penile cancer is suspected, patients are evaluated with a diagnostic biopsy and MRI scan, and also CT scan to ensure that the cancer has not spread. When evaluating patients for surgery the latest techniques are used in penile reconstruction. Historically patients would undergo partial amputation and radical surgery. Although this sometimes may be required in certain groups of patients, nowadays most patients are treated with reconstructive surgery where only small parts of the penis are removed, and then reconstructed using skin grafts and other techniques.
The way in which penile cancer spreads is via lymph nodes and therefore these are assessed very carefully. These lymph nodes can either be directly involved by tumour and often lymph nodes may be felt, if this is the case. Alternatively, patients at high risk may have microscopic deposits of cancer within these lymph nodes. In this group it is very difficult to detect lymph node involvement and patients may require further surgery in the form of either sentinel node biopsy or lymphadenectomy (removal of the lymph nodes). In more advanced cases abdominal surgery may be required. Mr Minhas specialises in all these types of surgery and is a well recognised specialist in this area.
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Mary.McFeeley@HCAconsultant.co.uk |
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