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Black mole on tip of penis
by sendownsec, Jul 19, 2008 08:13PM
About 18 months ago i discovered a small dark black mole on the tip of my penis.Then about three weeks ago the mole started to grow. Its now raised out of the skin (no pain or discharge) Could this be Melanoma? If so what is the treatment for melanoma on the tip of a penis. If not melanoma then what is it?
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Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that occurs in the melanocytes, which are cells in the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis). Melanocytes produce the skin coloring or pigment known as melanin, which gives skin its tan or brown color and helps protect the deeper layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Melanoma develops when melanocytes undergo malignant transformation; become abnormal, grow uncontrollably and aggressively invade surrounding tissues. Melanoma may affect only the skin, or it may spread through the blood or lymph system to other organs and bones.
Although, melanoma of the penis is rare and accounts for less than 0.2% of all melanomas in men but of these about 50% are located on the glans penis. Early diagnosis is very important as the prognosis of the same is not that good as the disease can spread to other areas of the body quite fast.
Surgery is the primary treatment of melanoma. Depending on the stage of the melanoma, a partial/complete amputation of the penis is done. However, other therapies like radiotherapy (although majority of the melanomas are radiotherapy resistant); chemotherapy & hormonal therapy may be used.
Your description of the swelling is suggestive of Melanoma as it is black in color and now has got raised from the surface. Hence an early dermatologist/surgeon’s opinion will be quite helpful. You may need a diagnostic biopsy of the swelling. You may need other tests also like an x-ray of the chest, sonography of abdomen to find out if the disease has spread to the chest/abdomen.
Please treat your ailment as urgent and seek an urgent opinion of the medical specialist.
Please keep us posted.