non-profit organizations
The occurrence of cancer around the world is receiving increased attention by the medical establishment and the community. Numerous charities, universities, and non-profit organizations expend vast amounts of money and research to eliminate this disease in all of its forms. Unfortunately, not all types of cancer receive the same amount of attention in the media spotlight. Whether it is due to embarrassment, ignorance, or fear, conversations about cancers involving the sexual reproduction systems are not as freely discussed in the United States or any other societies.
While penile cancer is rare in the United States, it accounts for approximately 10% of cancers in African and South American men (Huether, McCance, Brashers, and Rote, 2017). A lack of social understanding, as well as the fear and ignorance that accompany diseases associated with sexual subjects, make delays a compounding problem. A specific diagnosis of penile cancer generally comes after a patient has noted a tumor or lesion. Further diagnosis, if it is not delayed, is done through an examination of the size, location, and fixation of the lesion. A biopsy is then performed along with imaging to determine if any metastasis has occurred in the surrounding lymph nodes. Treatment of this condition is usually completed with surgery although multimodal chemotherapy options are also being studied.
Vaginal or cervical cancer is often discovered by females who experience vaginal bleeding or discomfort. These symptoms, again if not delayed, likely are followed by a physical including a bimanual pelvic examination and a Pap test. Additional testing for suspected cancerous growth includes an HPV test, colposcopy, and biopsy test to look for abnormal cellular growth or signs of cancer. Lastly, imaging, including MRI scans, computerized tomography, and positron emission tomography may be employed to identify and plan for the treatment of abnormal cellular growths. Treatment for cancer in the female reproductive organs is similar to that of men as surgery and chemotherapy, including radiation is often employed.
