What is Penile Cancer?
Penile cancer is a rare reproductive cancer for men in the US. About 2,000 cases are diagnosed every year, and about 500 men die from this disease annually. There is a less than 1 in 100,000 chance of getting this disease, but the most common patients are gay and bisexual men, according to the NIH.
Penile cancer can cause the following symptoms:
- Thickening and color changes in areas of the penis
- Lumps and small crusty bumps
- Sores that may bleed
- Reddish, velvety rashes under the foreskin
- Flat, bluish-brown growths
- Bleeding under the foreskin
- Smelly discharge
- Swelling and constriction of the foreskin
- Swollen lymph nodes under the groin area
About 80% of penile cancers are found in men over the age of 55 and are associated with HPV and HIV infection. This can be acquired from unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners. Smoking and UV light treatment for psoriasis are also considered risk factors for penile cancer and can increase the likelihood of contracting the disease.
Biopsies are necessary for accurate penile cancer diagnosis. Either incisional or excisional biopsies may be done, along with biopsies of the lymph nodes in the groin area. Imaging tests like CT scans and MRIs are also available for when penile cancer is at the later stages and has spread into other organs.
Penile cancer is often treated with a variety of surgical methods. But radiation, chemotherapy, and topical treatments are also available, depending on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the patient.
The American Cancer Society uses the SEER database to estimate the 5-year relative survival rates for penile cancer. They are classified as either localized, regional, or distant. In the localized stage, when cancer has not spread outside the penis, survival rates are at 79%. This goes down to 51% when the cancer spreads to nearby structures and lymph nodes in the regional stage. When the cancer reaches the distant stage and spreads to other organs, survival rates drop down to only 9%.
What Can I Do if I was Misdiagnosed or Diagnosed Late with Penile Cancer in New York?
Seek a medical malpractice attorney for legal advice if you’ve been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. Although rare, penile cancer is easily detectable. Early detection and treatment are important because a late diagnosis will result in needing more intense treatments. Outside of death from cancer metastasis, late diagnosis may even result in the need for a penectomy. This removes the penis completely and severely affects the quality of life for men. If you or a loved one have been harmed due to misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of penile cancer in the State of New York, call the Porter Law Group. Our medical malpractice lawyers and board-certified medical experts can evaluate your case for free.
The lawyers at Porter Law Group have secured millions of dollars* for patients whose cancer was diagnosed late. We can recover compensation for you if your doctor deviated from the expected standard of care for patients with similar conditions, and help get you and your family the answers you deserve.
Can I Sue for Medical Malpractice if I was Diagnosed Late with Penile Cancer in New York?
Patients may be eligible to sue medical staff if their penile cancer is diagnosed late. However, medical negligence cases are complex, especially in the State of New York. You will need to navigate the complex filing and documentary requirements, as well as be aware of the statute of limitations for filing your case. Not only that, but you need a qualified medical expert who can examine your case, and testify that your penile cancer should have been caught sooner.
Not all cases of late diagnosis are medical malpractice. It is not enough to show that you’ve been injured to receive compensation. You must show that there was a doctor-patient relationship, that the doctor deviated from the expected standard of care for patients with similar conditions. And that this deviation was the proximate cause of your injury.
The Porter Law Group works with experts in the medical field. We hire them to examine your case, see if your cancer should have been diagnosed sooner, and testify on your behalf. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers have a proven track record of recovering financial compensation for victims of medical malpractice in the State of New York.
Contact us at 833-PORTER9, or e-mail us at info@porterlawteam.com to discuss the details of our experience representing other clients and the results we were able to obtain in the past for clients who also suffered from cancer. In many ways, our results speak for themselves, and we will stand ready to help you and your family in your time of greatest need.
