Cancer of the penis is infrequent in the United States because of good genital hygiene and circumcision of male babies at birth. In other countries, it represents 11–12% of all cancer in males. Tumors of the penis consist mainly of squamous cell carcinoma. Mesenchymal tumors are rare. The treatment is based on the surgical excision of the penis (partial or total) with or without regional lymphadenectomy. Radiotherapy alone or in conjunction with surgery is also used. Chemotherapy with bleomycin and/or methotrexate has been effective in advanced disease. The prognosis is directly related to the stage of the tumor at the time of the treatment. Patients without lymphatic metastases remain alive and free of disease at ten years of follow‐up. Meanwhile, patients with microscopic lymphatic spread, survive an average of 2.5 years (Roswell Park Memorial Institute). These data emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to achieve long survival.

All patients who underwent hemodialysis as part of their treatment for cancer at Roswell Park Memorial Institute from 1965 to 1974 were retrospectively studied to determine the value of hemodialysis in cancer patients. Approximately 25% (8 cases) lived 5 weeks or longer in spite of advanced renal failure and carcinoma with no severe complications. The longest survivor is still alive after ten years.