Psychosocial impact of penile carcinoma

Malignant diseases of the penis are rare in the western world with an incidence of less than 1 in 100,000 men (1). However, these rates are 5 times higher in the developing nations such as Africa and South America, reflecting a higher prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) (2). The treatments for early stage disease typically include organ preservations strategies. Conversely, in invasive disease, the gold standard therapy is surgical resection with a partial or radical penectomy (1,3). The diagnosis of carcinoma of the penis along with these more radical disfiguring treatments may have a significant impact on the patient’s sexual function, quality of life, self-image and self-esteem (4). Herein, in this review, we summarized the current literature on the psychological impact of a penile cancer diagnosis and its treatment for patients