Symptoms of penile cancer explained as father had four inches of manhood cut off after 'death smell' sign
After one unfortunate fellow revealed his experience with penile cancer, many of you might be wondering what symptoms you need to look out for to avoid a similar fate.
Steven Hamill recently opened up about his experience with the rare disease that usually affects men over the age of 50, after he was regularly turned away from doctors because of his age.
Despite experiencing some horrific pain in his nether regions and showing nearly all the symptoms, Steven was reassured on a number of occasions that it couldn't be cancer.
It was only when he woke up in a pool of his own blood in his brother's car that A&E were able to take his situation seriously, and he underwent a procedure in Manchester that saw him have a circumcision and have four inches of his manhood surgically removed.
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He said: "I was in so much pain. It felt like someone was poking a needle into the end of my penis. The only way I could get a little bit of pain-free time was in the bathroom or I'd be rocking on the floor.
"After this, the smell started. I would describe this smell as death," the former cancer patient continued. "The smell followed me round and it was awful and other people could smell it.
"I went back to the doctors. I had every sign and symptom of penile cancer and the doctor agreed but he said it 'couldn't be cancer' as I was only 26."
Fortunately for Steven, he was rather well-endowed and he still has four inches to show for himself down there, with everything still in working order, as he also became a father after his surgery.
However, it was still an incredibly painful and scary experience for him and for those who might have a little less length, it would likely ruin any chances of becoming a father or maintaining a healthy sexual relationship.
Therefore, it's important to keep track of any changes that you might experience down there and speak to a doctor as soon as possible if you experience any symptoms.
The NHS suggests that the most common symptoms include a change in the foreskin or head of the penis, including soreness, rashes or a change in colour.
Any lumps or growths in that area should also be investigated as soon as possible, while the smell that Steven mentions is also thought to be a key indicator.
Bleeding from your penis or under your foreskin is another common sign, while phimosis, or the painful pulling back of the foreskin, can also be a potential sign.
Other less common symptoms include a lump in your groin, feeling tired, losing weight without trying and tummy pain.
As with many other cancers, early diagnosis is always key and if you think you might have penile cancer it's definitely worth speaking to someone as soon as possible because nobody knows your body better than yourself.
James Moorhouse