Signs and Symptoms of Penile Cancer

Penile cancer often starts with noticeable signs and symptoms. The signs and symptoms below don’t always mean a person has penile cancer. In fact, many are more likely to be caused by other conditions.

Common symptoms of penile cancer

Because penile cancer typically starts on the skin, its signs and symptoms often allow it to be found at an early stage if they are brought to a doctor’s attention.

Skin changes

The first sign of penile cancer is most often a change in the skin of the penis. This is most likely to be on the glans (tip) of the penis or on the foreskin (in uncircumcised men), but it can also be on the shaft. Changes may include:

• An area of skin becoming thicker
• Changes in the skin color
• A lump
• An ulcer (sore) that might bleed
• A reddish, velvety rash under the foreskin
• Small, crusty bumps
• Flat, bluish-brown growths
• Smelly discharge (fluid) or bleeding under the foreskin

Sores or lumps from penile cancer usually don’t hurt, but they might. See a doctor if you find any kind of new growth or other abnormality on your penis, even if it’s not painful. Any change that doesn’t get better after several weeks, or gets worse, should be checked by a doctor.

Swelling

Swelling at the end of the penis, especially when the foreskin is constricted, is another possible sign of penile cancer. It may be harder to draw back the foreskin.

Lumps under the skin in the groin area

If penile cancer spreads, it most often goes to lymph nodes in the groin first, causing them to swell. Lymph nodes (collections of immune cells) are normally bean-sized and can barely be felt. If they’re swollen, they may feel like lumps under the skin.

But swollen lymph nodes don’t always mean that cancer has spread there. More often, lymph nodes swell in response to an infection.

See a doctor if you have symptoms

Having any of the signs or symptoms above doesn’t always mean a person has penile cancer. In fact, many of them are more likely to be caused by other conditions. There are many possible causes of lumps, growths, swelling, and other abnormal areas on the penis, including some types of infections. For more on some of these, see Penile Cancer.

If you see or feel something and you’re not sure what it is, see a health care provider so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. Regardless of what it is, it can most likely be treated.