What to expect from radiotherapy for penile cancer

Planning scans and measurements help target the penis and, when needed, nearby groin areas. You may use a support to keep the treatment position consistent. The radiation is not felt during delivery, but the treated skin can become red, dry, tender, or moist as sessions continue.

Passing urine may sting or become more frequent if the urethra is within the treatment area. Swelling, tiredness, and changes in sexual comfort can occur. Your team can discuss fertility, erections, intimacy, and emotional support in a private and respectful consultation.

Wash gently, pat dry, and wear loose breathable underwear unless your team gives different instructions. Avoid rubbing, unapproved creams, fragranced products, and heat on the treated skin. Drink according to your care plan and tell the team if urination becomes painful.

Keep review appointments so the skin and urinary symptoms can be checked. Use prescribed dressings or pain relief as directed. Ask before sexual activity if the skin is sore, and speak openly about intimacy concerns; support is part of cancer care.

Contact your team promptly for spreading redness, open or weeping skin, increasing swelling, severe pain, fever, blood in the urine, or difficulty passing urine. Seek urgent help if you cannot urinate, develop heavy bleeding, feel faint, or have breathing difficulty.

Ask which areas will be treated, how to wash and dress the skin, what urinary changes are expected, whether sexual activity needs to pause, and how fertility or erections may be affected. Confirm the out-of-hours number and when the treated area will be reviewed after the course.