Today, let’s talk about a rather serious topic for our male friends！！！

Recent research has found that the number of penile cancer cases and related deaths worldwide continues to rise. Experts are urging men not to overlook the importance of penile hygiene and cleanliness.

According to a report by the BBC, João, a 63-year-old man from Brazil, discovered an unexplained wart on his penis in 2018. After seeking medical advice, doctors diagnosed it as ‘phimosis’ or a ‘side effect of medication.’ Despite undergoing treatment, his condition did not improve and began to affect his marriage and sex life. However, he was unable to resolve the issue.

Over the past five years, João sought help from various doctors with no success. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with penile cancer in 2023 and chose to have part of his penis removed as treatment.

João admitted, ‘This disease shocked me and my family because I needed to have part of my penis removed.’ He jokingly added, ‘This isn’t the kind of cancer you can talk about with others because they might make it a joke.’

In fact, the number of people suffering from penile cancer worldwide is continuously increasing. In João’s home country of Brazil alone, there were as many as 21,000 cases between 2012 and 2022, resulting in 4,000 deaths.

Doctors state that ‘if penile cancer is detected early, it can be cured through surgical removal of the affected area, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, with a high chance of recovery. However, if not treated in time, it may require the removal of part of the penis and possibly other reproductive organs like the testicles.’

As for the causes of penile cancer, doctors indicate that phimosis, smoking, poor hygiene, and infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) are potential factors.