C

cancer of the penis A malignant (cancerous)
tumor that arises from the tissues of the PENIS.
Cancer of the penis is rare and usually occurs in
men over age 50. Men who are uncircumcised
and men who have HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS(HPV)
infection have increased risk for cancer of the
penis. Early symptoms include a painless growth,
bump, or sore at the tip of the penis. In an uncir-
cumcised man such a growth most commonly
appears beneath the foreskin, which often delays
the cancer’s detection. Early diagnosis and treat-
ment allow the least invasive treatment. Surgery
is the preferred treatment to remove the cancer-
ous tumor and a safe margin of healthy tissue.
Follow-up surgery to reconstruct the penis is
sometimes necessary. Depending on how
advanced the cancer is, the oncologist may recom-
mend RADIATION THERAPYor CHEMOTHERAPYin addi-
tion to surgery.
See also CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS AND DECI-
SIONS; CIRCUMCISION; METASTASIS; PROSTATE CANCER;
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD) PREVENTION;
PLASTIC SURGERY; SURGERY FOR CANCER; TESTICULAR
CANCER.

cervical cancer A malignant (cancerous) tumor
that originates in a woman’s CERVIX. The cervix is a
thick neck of tissue that joins the VAGINAand the
UTERUS. INFECTIONwith the HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS
(HPV) accounts for nearly all cervical cancer,
though only about 15 of the 100 or so strains of
HPV are connected with cervical cancer and only a
small percentage of women who have HPV infec-
tion with one of those strains actually develops
cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer tends to follow a predictable
path of development that takes many years to
evolve, typically 10 years or longer. Because of

this, with early detection cervical cancer is one of

the most curable forms of cancer. The path of

development for cervical cancer begins with slight

changes in the cells of cervical tissue, called cervi-

cal DYSPLASIA. Though not cancer, dysplasia is a cir-

cumstance of irregular cell growth. All cervical

cancer begins as cervical dysplasia. Because of this,

even though only a small percentage of cervical

dysplasia become cancer doctors consider cervical

dysplasia a broad classification of cell abnormali-

ties that range from precancerous to cancerous.

Doctors call moderate to severe cervical dyspla-

sia, which is precancerous, CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL

NEOPLASIA(CIN). Doctors believe about two thirds

of untreated cervical dysplasia progresses to can-

cer. The PAP TEST, a laboratory examination of cells

swabbed from the cervix, can detect cervical dys-

plasia, CIN, and other changes in cervical tissue. A

Pap test is part of a routine PELVIC EXAMINATION.

Symptoms and Diagnostic Path

Cervical cancer often shows no symptoms until it

spreads outside the cervix, which is why routine

Pap tests are so crucial in its detection. When

symptoms are present they may include

• watery, sometimes blood-tinged discharge


• vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or
  after MENOPAUSE


• vaginal bleeding during or after SEXUAL INTER-
  COURSE


• unusually heavy or prolonged menstrual peri-
  ods


• low back discomfort


• unexplained tiredness, lack of energy, or fatigue


• URINARY URGENCYor URINARY FREQUENCY

256