Penile Cancer: Challenges and Controversies

Aims and Scope: Although penile cancer is uncommon in the industrialized world, it is highly prevalent in certain regions of the globe such as South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It is a highly aggressive malignancy which is often associated with a long delay until diagnosis. This is frequently attributed to shame, fear, and ignorance of the patient. In more advanced stages, it may require extensive amputative surgery that is devastating both physically and psychologically with enormous impact on quality of life, such as loss of conjugal intimacy and self-esteem. On the contrary, in the early stages surgical resection and subsequent disfigurement can be minimized and associated with good cosmetic results. Therefore, it is both patient's and physician's task to identify the disease early as the negative impact of the treatment is undoubtedly reduced. This fact emphasizes the importance of education of the patient, primary care physician and thepublic in general, and should get the proper attention from both the medical and lay media. Simple routine habits like self-examination and desired hygiene will facilitate early diagnosis and prevention.Although penile cancer has undergone significant advances in the field of diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment in the past two decades, several challenges and controversies still remain unsolved. Diagnostic evaluation and management of less clinically evident disease requires better standardization of practice. Similarly, minimizing adverse sequelae related to interventions cannot be overemphasized. The implementation of multidisciplinary centers of excellence focused on the nuances inherent to an uncommon but aggressive disease will significantly aid to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life. Each chapter's senior author was hand-selectedas a world class resource for the area of expertise and for their willingness to share their surgical insight and wisdom. This book will have contributions from world-renowned experts in this field from different continents, providing an international flare and perspective on the recent developments in the field of diagnosis and treatment penile cancer as well as reconstruction of the devastating effects of penile mutilation, including the recent interest in phallic reconstruction and ultimately penile transplantation for the penile cancer survivor. This book will also highlight other current challenges and controversies surrounding this disease, especially those related to the management of locally advanced and metastatic involvement.This book, with its multidisciplinary approach, is intended to provide a comprehensive discussion and benefit every reader, junior or senior, world over who is interested in and deals with patients afflicted by penile cancer, including the urologic oncologist, the radiation oncologist, the medical oncologist, the urology resident, and last but not least the primary care physician.