EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PENIS CANCER AND ITS PSYCHICAL CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

PENILE CANCER IS A RARE MALIGNANCY THAT COMMONLY MANIFESTS AS AN INJURY OR TUMOR. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND THE PSYCHIC CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH PENILE CANCER. THIS IS A MINI-REVIEW CARRIED OUT IN THE PUBMED (NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE AND NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH), SCIELO (SCIENTIFIC ELECTRONIC LIBRARY ONLINE) AND INCA - NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE JOS� ALENCAR GOMES DA SILVA. THE ARTICLES ANALYZED INDICATED THAT THE STEREOTYPE OF THE PATIENTS AFFECTED WITH THE CANCER IS CHARACTERIZED MAINLY BY MAN, HETEROSEXUAL, MARRIED, BETWEEN 35 AND 50 YEARS. IT WAS ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE PREVALENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF CASES OCCURS IN DEVELOPING AND UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES, WITH EMPHASIS ON BRAZIL. SUCH PREVALENCE IS EXPLAINED BY SEVERAL RISK FACTORS, THE MAIN ONES BEING: POOR INTIMATE HYGIENE, PRESENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV), AND DELAY IN SEEKING MEDICAL HELP. IN MOST CASES, THE TREATMENT OF PENILE CANCER REQUIRES TOTAL OR PARTIAL PENECTOMY, AN ALTERNATIVE THAT CAN PROVE TO BE DEVASTATING TO THE PATIENT'S PSYCHIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. IT IS THEREFORE NOTED THAT IN THE CASE OF THIS CARCINOMA, THE MORE AGGRESSIVE THE TREATMENT, THE GREATER ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION, EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND DAILY ASEPSIS OF THE GENITAL ORGAN ARE FUNDAMENTAL IN THE PREVENTION OF SUCH MALIGNANCY.