'I thought I was just tired, it was cancer and I'd ignored the signs for months'
A Kildare dad-of-four never imaged he could get cancer, until months of tiredness and a foul smell from his penis turned out to be signs of a rare but serious disease.
Cormac France, who describes himself as "very fit and active" shared his experience of penile cancer as part of a new HSE awareness campaign called 'Know the Signs', launched to coincide with Men's Health Week.
"I'm a very fit and active person. I used to do a lot of training," cancer survivor Cormac explained. "Because I don't smoke, I didn't think I would be a candidate to get cancer, never mind penile cancer, which is rarer again."
He initially dismissed the symptoms for months. Cormac said: "Looking back from when I was diagnosed, I did notice, the six months or so previous, that's when the changes really started with weight loss, chronic tiredness, and as time progressed, the smell from my penis was horrendous, and then the penis started to split. That was due to the tumours. Cancer can reach every part of your body, and people have to realise that. To get the news is devastating, but there are people there to help."
Penile cancer, a rare but aggressive disease diagnosed in about 60 men in Ireland each year, mostly affects men over 50. Early detection significantly improves survival rates and can preserve function and appearance.
The HSE is urging men to take early signs of penile cancer seriously and to seek medical help of they notice any changes.
Consultant Urologist Mr Ivor Cullen, who leads the National Penile Cancer Service at Beaumont Hospital, emphasised the importance of awareness, saying: "These new resources are aimed at increasing knowledge of penile cancer among men. Although a rare disease, penile cancer is a very aggressive disease when it has spread. Penile cancer is, in large part, preventable, yet we're still seeing men present late because of stigma and lack of awareness. It's a sensitive subject, yes, but early detection makes all the difference, not just for survival, but for preserving function and quality of life."
Men are advised to watch for these signs and symptoms:
Alison Doran, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Penile and Bladder Cancer at Beaumont Hospital, added that risk factors include age over 50, HPV infection, smoking, poor hygiene and conditions like phimosis, which cause chronic inflammation.
She said: "The main risk factors are men over 50 years of age, and infection with HPV, human papillomavirus, which is a significant risk factor. We would see over half of our cases linked to HPV. Smoking also increases the risk, and poor hygiene is another key factor. If a patient has a previous experience of phimosis, which is tightening of the foreskin, or if there's a build-up of smegma under the foreskin, that can create chronic inflammation and create cancer cells as well."
Smegma is a build-up of thick, cheesy-looking secretions around your genitals that collects when you don't wash them regularly. It can be white or yellow and is a combination of oils from your sebaceous glands.
The campaign is running across HSE social media channels and includes a new booklet, 'What I Need to Know About Penile Cancer', available for free download at www.healthpromotion.ie. This guide helps men, families and healthcare providers recognise symptoms early, understand risks and find support.
Men across Ireland are urged not to ignore unusual symptoms and to seek medical advice immediately as early action could save lives.
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