A 39-year-old male patient (in Son La) had phimosis since childhood but did not seek treatment. More than a year ago, the patient developed inflammation and ulcers that were slow to heal, with papules and discolored spots in the foreskin area. Reading online and seeing signs similar to genital warts, he thought he had a sexually transmitted disease.

However, he did not go to the hospital for examination and treatment but applied the medicine himself as advised by his friends. Only when his "little guy" was sore, had discharge, and had painful urination did the patient return to the hospital.

Dr. Nguyen Huu Quang, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Central Dermatology Hospital, said that at the time of hospitalization, the patient's "little guy" was swollen and ulcerated, leading to urinary retention and difficulty urinating.

The patient was diagnosed with penile cancer and inguinal lymph nodes, but because he arrived late, the foreskin was already severely ulcerated. After a biopsy, the doctor had to cut off part of the penis and remove the lymph nodes.

Dr. Quang said that most patients come to the hospital at a late stage, so most of them have to have part of their penis removed. In the most serious cases, the entire genitals including the penis, scrotum, testicles, etc. have to be removed.

For patients who have had a part of their “little man” amputated, they will encounter many obstacles in their normal life as well as sexual activities. Losing the foreskin – the sensitive part that senses sexual function will reduce pleasure, and when urinating, urine will leak because the meatus can no longer open and close normally.

When the penis is completely removed, the patient will not be able to have normal sexual intercourse and will have to use assisted reproductive technology if they want to have children. Every time they urinate, the patient will have to sit or lie on their stomach to urinate.

Symptoms of penile cancer include ulcers, unusual infections, foul-smelling pus discharge or unusual bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin, painful swelling of the penis, inguinal lymph nodes, etc.

Thu Hien