Documents reveal how to protect yourself, avoid amputation

It is every man’s worst nightmare.

Cases of penile cancer are on the rise worldwide and are expected to rise by 77% in the next 26 years, according to an alarming new investigation by the BBC.

The British news outlet says cases in Germany rose by 50% between 1961 and 2012, while the UK has also seen a significant rise.

“Although developing countries still hold the highest incidence and mortality of penile cancer, the incidence is increasing in most European countries,” said researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in China, after a large-scale analysis involving latest data from 43. countries.

Brazil has one of the highest rates of penile cancer in the world, after Uganda.

Between 2012 and 2022, there were 21,000 reported cases of penile cancer in Brazil, with 4,000 men succumbing to the disease.

Another 6,500 of the country’s men were forced to have their appendages cut off.

Brazilian doctors believe that HPV is low [human papillomavirus] the vaccination rate is contributing to the increase in the number of cases.

Mauricio Dener Cordeiro of the Brazilian Association of Urology says that HPV is “one of the main risk factors” of penile cancer.

“In Brazil, despite the availability of the vaccine, the HPV vaccination rate remains low for girls – reaching only 57% – and for boys, it does not exceed 40%,” he told the BBC. “The ideal coverage to prevent the disease is 90%.

Meanwhile, other doctors have thought about what to do to reduce your risk.

“Identified risk factors also include unprotected sex, particularly not using condoms, with poor hygiene further increasing the risks,” told the BBC Dr. Neil Barber, Clinical Lead for Urology at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

He said the cases were mostly seen in patients who were uncircumcised.

Meanwhile, other doctors say an aging population is also contributing to the number of cases as penile cancer is more common in men in their 60s.

Men who experience penile discharge, a change in penile color or a noticeable change in sex drive should consult their doctor as early detection is key to avoiding amputation.

However, despite the significant increase in diagnoses worldwide, men can be relatively at ease as the cancer is still one of the rarest.

In Uganda, between 2008 and 2012, the penile cancer rate was 2.2 per 100,000 men, while in Brazil it was 2.1 per 100,000 men.