Although it remains incredibly rare, penile cancer is increasingly affecting younger men.
鈥淚t used to be uniformly a disease of older men, or even much older men up into their 70s and 80s, and now we鈥檙e seeing cases in 30 and 40 year olds,鈥 , a radiation oncologist with the BC Cancer Foundation, told CTV News from Kelowna, B.C.
About 50 per cent of new cases, Crook adds, are associated with the human papillomavirus, or HPV for short, which has also been linked to cervical and oral cancers.
鈥淲ith the increasing prevalence of human papillomavirus in the population, penile cancer is increasing,鈥 Crook said. 鈥淚f (men) have had exposure before to human papillomavirus, especially in the form of genital warts at a younger age or things like that, then they should be aware if they notice anything unusual (or) different on their penis.鈥
鈥業 DIDN鈥橳 REALLY THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG鈥
It is estimated that in Canada, a man is diagnosed with this rare but potentially devastating form of cancer every two days. Many often fail to seek medical help before it spreads.
That鈥檚 why people like Newfoundlander Barry Ducey are sharing their stories.
鈥淚 had penile cancer,鈥 Ducey declared in a using comedic delivery to delve into a heavy topic. 鈥(If) there鈥檚 a lump or something abnormal on there, give 鈥榚r a check and go have a doctor check it out. Don鈥檛 be afraid. You damn well don鈥檛 want to lose your junk.鈥
That video received dozens of comments from men who were inspired by Ducey to get themselves checked.
Trevor, who did not want CTV News to use his last name, is also sounding the alarm.
鈥淎t the beginning, it was a fairly small bump so I didn鈥檛 really think that there was anything wrong,鈥 he told CTV News.
He says he ignored worsening signs for more than a decade until finally showing his penis to a doctor in 2011.
鈥淭hroughout the years, when it did grow, it became more sensitive to the point where it became more painful,鈥 Trevor explained. 鈥淚 didn't take it as serious as I should have and basically (that was because of) just the embarrassment of where it was.鈥
鈥業T SHOULDN鈥橳 BE A DISEASE THAT IS EVER ADVANCED鈥
Early symptoms of penile cancer can include unusual discolouration, rashes, bumps or pimples that don鈥檛 go away.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no pain, it鈥檚 not itchy, it鈥檚 just something that鈥檚 there that shouldn鈥檛 be there and that鈥檚 why they need to have it checked out,鈥 Crook cautioned. 鈥淏y the time this will cause pain or bleeding, it鈥檚 a much more advanced state.鈥
Caught early enough, penile cancer can be effectively treated with surgery and radiation using a special device that the penis fits into. Advanced cases, Crook warns, can lead to amputation and even death.
鈥淥nce this cancer has had a chance to spread to the lymph nodes in the groin area, and then it goes on to the pelvis, it has a high fatality rate,鈥 she said. 鈥(But) it shouldn鈥檛 be a disease that is ever advanced because men handle their penis at least half a dozen times a day.鈥
鈥楪O SEE A DOCTOR鈥
Fortunately for Trevor, his penile cancer was caught before it spread and he was soon treated with radiation by Dr. Crook. That procedure, Trevor said, went 鈥渆xtremely well鈥 and now he 鈥渃ouldn鈥檛 be more happier.鈥
鈥淭he recovery time was very quick,鈥 Trevor, who has been cancer-free for eight years now, added. 鈥淭he whole experience put life in a whole new perspective for myself.鈥
Ducey also is now also cancer-free.
鈥淚鈥檓 not looking down and seeing that I got half of my penis missing because I鈥檇 neglected to go see a doctor,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o please guys, please: go see a doctor if you see any lumps.鈥
