Penile Cancer Treatment

Our highly skilled genitourinary oncology team will come together to tailor a penile cancer treatment to treat your cancer as precisely as possible while minimizing side effects. Our surgical oncologists even pioneered a minimally invasive technique for removing diseased lymph nodes from the groin that is now used around the world for penile cancer treatment. So, you can trust us when we say you’re in good hands.

Because every case of penile cancer is different, there is no single penile cancer treatment protocol that works for everyone. The genitourinary cancer experts at Winship use the latest technology and advanced testing to analyze your particular cancer from every angle. Your team of physicians — including your surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and more — will meet to determine the best course of action for your cancer. This enables your care team to develop a plan to treat your cancer as aggressively as possible while minimizing side effects.

Winship is Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and we participate in hundreds of clinical trials each year. In fact, many of the drugs used to treat cancer today came out of clinical trials performed at Winship, which means our patients were some of the first to benefit. In other words, we can offer you access to the latest penile cancer treatment you likely won’t find at other cancer centers.

At Winship, we offer the most comprehensive array of penile cancer treatment options in the state and the expertise to treat your disease. Based on your unique cancer, your treatment plan may include:

Surgery

Nearly all patients with penile cancer will have some type of surgery to remove their tumor. Winship is home to some of the most highly skilled genitourinary surgical oncologists in the country who can perform surgeries other centers can’t, including penectomy, which is a highly complex surgery to remove the penis. We also are experts at resecting cancer with as little damage as possible to surrounding healthy tissue. And we have a team of reconstructive urologists who expertly restore function and aesthetics where necessary.

Lymph Node Removal

Patients whose cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes in the groin will need to have them removed with surgery. Traditional lymph node surgery is complex and has an extremely high complication rate. Winship surgeons pioneered a minimally invasive technique for removing lymph nodes in the groin that reduces the risk of complications and shortens patient recovery time. They now travel around the world to teach other surgeons how to perform this surgery.

Laser Ablation

Small tumors on the surface of the penis can sometimes be treated with a minimally invasive procedure that uses a carbon dioxide-based laser to destroy them.

Chemotherapy

This treatment involves the use of medication taken orally or injected to attack cancer cells throughout the body. It is often prescribed as part of a penile cancer treatment plan to shrink lymph nodes prior to surgery or to treat advanced cancers. At Winship, we have a team of genitourinary medical oncologists that specialize in optimizing chemotherapy to effectively treat penile cancer while also keeping side effects to a minimum.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, the use of high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells, may be used when a patient is not well enough to have surgery. When it is part of a penile cancer treatment plan, it should be performed by an experienced radiation oncologist, given the delicate tissue and myriad nerves located in and around the genitals. Winship’s genitourinary cancer team includes radiation oncologists who specialize in penile cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy

This type of treatment uses drugs to help your body’s immune system recognize and enhance its ability to attack cancer cells. At Winship, we are pioneering the use of immunotherapies for many types of cancer, including penile cancer. Winship even has a dedicated immunotherapy research program that is advancing the world’s understanding of how our immune system can be harnessed to fight cancers successfully.

We understand a diagnosis of penile cancer is especially difficult for men who wish to have children. If your penile cancer treatment plan includes chemotherapy and fertility is a concern, we’ll work closely with the reproductive endocrinologists at Emory Reproductive Center on fertility preservation without delaying your cancer treatment.

At Winship, we strive to deliver the most effective treatment while also minimizing side effects. But coping with penile cancer and the side effects of penile cancer treatment can be difficult. That’s why we have a supportive oncology team of specialized doctors and nurses on staff to help you with the physical, psychological and emotional aspects of living with cancer, including symptom management and counseling. This team — with the help of counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals — will be with you every step of the way, supporting you along your experience and beyond.