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Cancer - penis

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Cancer - penis

Definition:

A malignant (aggressively growing with a tendency to spread) cancer that affects the penis.

Alternative Names:
Penile cancer; Squamous cell cancer - penis

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The exact cause of penile cancer is not known, but the presence of smegma (cheese-like, odorous secretions found under the foreskin of the penis) may increase the risk.

Uncircumcised men who do not keep the area under the foreskin clean, and men with a history of genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV), are at higher risk for this rare disorder.

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