CASES penile cancer and amputations have surged at an "alarming rate" across the globe. And they're predicted to rise further, with experts warning cases could increase by 77 per cent in the next 30 years. 1 Penile cancer usually affects the foreskin or tip or the penis Credit: Getty Penis cancer is a rare type of the disease that most commonly affects men over the age of 50.
Symptoms of penile cancer often start with a sore on the penis that does not heal and a strong-smelling discharge. Some people get bleeding and colour changes of the penis, too. When detected early, the cancer is more easily treatable and there is a high chance of recovery.
But if left untreated, it may become necessary to amputate part or all of the penis, as wells as nearby genital organs such as the testicles. A total penectomy, as the procedure is called, is only done if the cancer cells have penetrated deeply into the penis or if the cancer is at the base of the penis. According to Cancer Research UK, about 760 cases of the cancer are diagnosed in the UK every year.
Researchers from the Sun Yat-Sen University in China looked into penile cancer cases and deaths across the globe, analysing data collected between 1973 and 2012 from 44 populations across 43 different countries. Most read in Health BATTERY BLAZE 20 dead in massive inferno after explosions rip through battery factory 'BEEN ON THE DRINK' Moment BBC presenter's husband & son spotted on TV during Scotland game BLAST CHAOS Explosions heard in.