Research into living with penis cancer

The world's first ever national study of life with penile cancer is to be carried out at Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU).

Cancer of the penis is a rare condition affecting approximately 400 men in the UK each year. The cancer may be visible on the skin, under the foreskin or hidden inside the penis. Currently there are a number of possible treatments available including resurfacing, glansectomy, partial or full penectomy, laser therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Peter Branney, Senior Research Fellow in Men’s Health at LMU said: 'Treatment for penile cancer can have severe consequences for physical, psychological, and social sexual and urinary function - peeing.

Research demonstrates that cancer patients place great emphasis on the day-to-day practicalities of living with cancer and that penile cancer patients currently perceive there to be a lack of advice about the practical and social aspects of living with the impact of the disease and treatment of it.'

The project hopes to help put this right. ''There was a small study of the impact in Wales by Kate Bullen, head of psychology at Aberystwyth Uni who is a partner on our study but this is the first national study in the world,' said Branney.

'The study will be patient-led and includes a penile cancer patient on the studies advisory panel. It will  employ one-to-one narrative interviewing techniques to reveal patients stories. Patients will be given the option for their interviews to be recorded, using either digital audio equipment or video equipment. Findings from the study will feed into a website which provides access to over 2,000 people’s experiences of health and illness.

The research team are currently recruiting men of all ages, backgrounds and treatment experiences to the study. If you have been treated for penile cancer, work with penile cancer patients or have an interest in the study please email Karl Witty or call on 0113 8121968.

The Centre for Men’s Health at LMU are working in collaboration with the Health Experiences Research Group at the University of Oxford, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust and the Psychology Department at Aberystwyth University.