Partial penectomy
Partial penectomy removes the part of the penis that contains cancer, with a rim of healthy tissue around it, and makes a new opening for urine at the end of the remaining shaft. When the cancer is small, surgeons try to save more of the penis with glans-sparing operations.
Also called Partial penile amputation, Penile cancer surgery, Surgery for cancer of the penis, Removal of part of the penis, Penile tumor removal, Glansectomy, Glans resurfacing, Penile-sparing surgery
- Where
- Hospital operating room or outpatient surgery center
- Anesthesia
- General or spinal anesthesia
- Time in the room
- About 1 to 2 hours
- Hospital stay
- Same day or one to two nights
- Going home with
- A urinary catheter for a few days to about a week (practice varies)
- Back to normal
- About 2 to 4 weeks
- Back to work
- 1 to 2 weeks for desk work; about 4 weeks for heavy work
Overview
Penile cancer is rare in the United States, affecting fewer than 1 in 100,000 men each year. Most penile cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which start in the skin of the head of the penis (the glans) or the inner foreskin. Risk factors include infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a tight foreskin that cannot be pulled back, smoking, and long-term skin conditions such as lichen sclerosus. Many men wait months before showing a sore or growth to a doctor, often out of embarrassment. Earlier treatment usually means a smaller operation.
The goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer while keeping as much of the penis, and its function, as safely possible. European and American cancer experts now favor penile-sparing surgery whenever it is safe. Older teaching required removing 2 centimeters of healthy tissue beyond the tumor. Today, a smaller clear margin is accepted for many cancers, as long as the pathologist confirms there is no cancer at the edge. This lets surgeons save more length.
Which operation you need depends on how deep the cancer goes. Precancerous changes and very shallow cancers can often be treated with creams, laser, or removing just the skin of the head (glans resurfacing). Cancers confined to the head can often be treated by removing the glans (glansectomy) and rebuilding a new tip with a skin graft. When the cancer has grown into the spongy tissue or erectile chambers near the tip, a partial penectomy removes the end of the penis. Only very large cancers, or those near the base, need removal of the whole penis.
After a partial penectomy, most men keep enough length to stand to urinate, and many can still have erections and orgasms. Penile cancer often spreads first to the lymph nodes in the groin, so checking those nodes is a key part of treatment and is planned as a separate decision.
The parts of your body involved
The penis has a shaft and a head (glans). Inside the shaft are two spongy erectile chambers, the corpora cavernosa, wrapped in a tough sleeve called the tunica albuginea. Below them is a third spongy chamber, the corpus spongiosum, which surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen) and widens to form the head. Most penile cancers start on the skin of the head or foreskin and grow inward: first into the spongy chamber, then into the erectile chambers. Lymph fluid from the penis drains to lymph nodes in both groins.
- Head of the penis (glans)
The tip of the penis, where most penile cancers start.
- Foreskin
The skin covering the head in uncircumcised men. Cancer can start on its inner surface.
- Spongy chamber (corpus spongiosum)
Surrounds the urethra and forms the head. Cancer growing into it is deeper than skin-only cancer.
- Erectile chambers (corpora cavernosa)
Two chambers that fill with blood during an erection. They are divided and closed during a partial penectomy.
- Urethra and its opening
The urine tube, which is kept and brought out as a new opening at the end of the shaft.
- Groin lymph nodes
Small glands in each groin that filter lymph from the penis. They are the first place penile cancer usually spreads.
Why it’s done
Surgery is the main treatment for penile cancer. A partial penectomy is recommended when the cancer is too deep for glans-sparing surgery but can be removed with a clear margin while leaving a useful length of penis.
- To cure the cancer
Removing the cancer with clear edges gives a very low chance of it coming back at the same spot.
- To stage the cancer accurately
The pathologist measures how deep the cancer went, how aggressive it looks, and whether it entered small blood or lymph vessels. This decides what to do about the groin lymph nodes.
- To relieve symptoms
Penile cancers can bleed, become infected and smell. Removing the tumor ends these problems.
- To keep function
Compared with removing the whole penis, a partial penectomy lets most men stand to urinate and keep some sexual function.
- When sparing surgery is not safe
If the cancer is deep, large, or came back after a smaller treatment, a partial penectomy gives better cancer control.
Other options
- Creams for precancerous changes
Imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil cream applied for several weeks can clear penile intraepithelial neoplasia (precancerous skin changes). Close follow-up is needed.
- Laser treatment
A laser removes or destroys very shallow cancers or precancerous areas on the head. It keeps the penis whole, but the cancer is more likely to come back, so regular checks are essential.
- Glans resurfacing
The skin of the head is removed and replaced with a thin skin graft. Used for precancerous changes and some very shallow cancers.
- Wide local excision or glansectomy
Removing only the tumor with a margin, or removing the whole head and making a new tip with a skin graft. Suited to cancers confined to the head.
- Radiation
For selected small cancers, radiation, including brachytherapy (radioactive sources placed in or next to the tumor), can be used instead of surgery. Side effects can include narrowing of the urethra and skin changes.
- Total penectomy
If a partial penectomy cannot leave clear edges and a useful length, the whole penis is removed and the urethra is brought out between the scrotum and anus, so you urinate sitting down.
Getting ready
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Weeks before
The week before
The day before
The morning of
In the operating room, step by step
Press play or pick a step. Each drawing shows what your surgeon is doing at that moment. Your team may do some steps differently.
1. Anesthesia
You lie on your back and receive general anesthesia (fully asleep) or a spinal anesthetic (numb from the waist down). Antibiotics run through your IV.
After the operation
Right afterward
- Waking up
You wake with a dressing on the penis and a catheter draining urine into a bag. A cold pack helps with swelling.
- Pain control
Pain is usually moderate and controlled with regular medicines. A numbing block helps for the first hours.
- Catheter teaching
A nurse shows you how to care for the catheter and switch between a leg bag and a night bag.
- Walking
You are encouraged to walk the same day or the next morning.
- Going home
Many men go home the same day or after one night. Some stay a little longer after more extensive surgery.
At home
- Catheter
The catheter usually stays for a few days to about a week. Keep the bag below your bladder and the tubing free of kinks.
- Dressing and wound
Follow your team's advice on when to remove the dressing, often after 1 to 2 days. Keep the area clean and dry.
- Showering
Showering is usually fine after 48 hours. Pat the area dry. Avoid baths and pools until the wound has healed.
- Pain
Acetaminophen, and ibuprofen if allowed, are enough for most men after the first few days.
- Passing urine after the catheter comes out
The stream may spray at first because of swelling. Sitting to urinate, or using a funnel, helps. Spraying usually improves as swelling goes down.
- Bowels
Avoid straining. A stool softener helps, especially if you are taking stronger pain medicine.
- Activity and lifting
Walk every day. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for 2 to 4 weeks.
- Driving
Drive once the catheter is out, you are off strong pain medicine, and you can sit comfortably.
- Sex
Most men can resume sexual activity once the wound has fully healed, usually after 4 to 6 weeks.
- Your mood
Feeling low, anxious or angry is common. Tell your team, and consider a counselor or support group.
Recovery timeline
- Day 0Surgery
Home the same day or after one night with a catheter.
- Days 1 to 3Swelling peaks
The tip is swollen and sore. Short walks and rest.
- Days 3 to 7Catheter out
The catheter is removed at home or in the clinic. The stream may spray at first.
- About 1 to 2 weeksPathology results
Your team reviews how deep the cancer went and whether the edges are clear, and finalizes the plan for the groin lymph nodes.
- Weeks 4 to 6Healed
The wound has healed for most men. Sex can usually resume.
- 3 monthsFirst cancer check
An exam of the penis and both groins, sometimes with an ultrasound or scan.
- Years 1 to 2Close follow-up
Checks every 3 to 6 months. Most cancers that come back do so within the first 2 years.
- Years 3 to 5 and beyondLonger follow-up
Checks every 6 to 12 months. Keep checking your groins and the tip yourself between visits.
What it feels like
Few operations touch a man's sense of himself as deeply as this one. Men describe fear, shame and grief before surgery, and often relief afterward that the cancer is out and that more function remains than they feared. Both partners may need support.
Hearing the diagnosis
Shock, embarrassment and fear of losing your manhood are common. Many men also blame themselves for waiting to show a doctor.
What helpsPenile cancer is treatable, especially when caught early. You did not cause it. Ask to talk with a counselor, and decide what you want to share with your partner and family.
The night before
Many men lie awake imagining how it will look and whether sex will be possible again.
What helpsAsk your surgeon beforehand for a clear description of the expected result. Knowing what to expect is often less frightening than imagining it.
Waking up
Relief that it is done, along with discomfort from the dressing and catheter.
What helpsPain medicine and cold packs help. The catheter is temporary.
The first look
Seeing the shorter penis for the first time is hard. Swelling and stitches make it look worse than the final result.
What helpsGive it time. Swelling settles over weeks, and the appearance improves. Some men find it easier to look for the first time with a nurse present.
Urinating again
The stream may spray, and it can feel unfamiliar or frustrating.
What helpsSitting to urinate at first is fine. Spraying usually improves as swelling goes down. Tell your team if the stream becomes thin.
Waiting for results
The days waiting for the pathology report can be anxious.
What helpsAsk when and how you will get results. Write down questions for that visit.
Intimacy again
Many men worry their partner will see them differently, or that sex will not work.
What helpsMany men can still have erections, orgasm and ejaculation. Take things slowly, talk openly, and ask about a sex therapist if it would help.
How well it works
Success means the cancer is fully removed with clear edges, you can urinate comfortably, and you keep as much sexual function as possible. Long-term outlook depends mostly on whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
- Cancer control at the penis
When the edges are clear, the cancer rarely comes back at the stump after a partial penectomy. Glans-sparing operations have a somewhat higher chance of local return, which is why follow-up is close.
- The pathology report
It gives the stage, grade and whether cancer entered small vessels. These guide whether the groin lymph nodes need further treatment.
- Urination
Most men keep enough length to stand to urinate. If the remaining shaft is very short, sitting may be easier.
- Sexual function
Many men can still have erections firm enough for sex and can reach orgasm and ejaculate. Studies suggest a good share of men who were sexually active before return to intercourse, though feeling and confidence can change.
- Follow-up
Regular exams of the penis and groins for at least 5 years, more often in the first 2 years.
Risks
Every operation has risks. These are the ones people ask about most, with honest odds where good numbers exist. Your surgeon’s own results matter more than averages.
Common
Expected around the tip and shaft. Usually settles over a few weeks.
Common at first and usually improves as swelling goes down.
Many men feel low, anxious or self-conscious. Support helps.
By design, part of the penis is removed. How much depends on where the cancer is.
Less common
The new opening can scar and narrow, making the stream thin. It may need stretching or a small operation to widen it.
Treated with antibiotics and wound care.
Usually stops with pressure. Rarely needs a return to the operating room.
Uncommon after a partial penectomy with clear edges. It can often be treated with further surgery.
Some men have weaker or painful erections afterward. Treatments can help.
Rare
If the final report shows cancer at an edge, more surgery, sometimes a total penectomy, may be needed.
Clots in the legs or lungs are rare. Walking early helps prevent them.
Serious reactions are rare. Your anesthesia team checks your health beforehand.
Call your care team or go to the emergency room if
- Fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, or shaking chills
- Bleeding that soaks the dressing and does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure
- The catheter stops draining for more than 1 to 2 hours and your bladder feels full or painful
- After the catheter is out, you cannot pass urine for 6 to 8 hours, or the stream becomes very thin and you strain
- Spreading redness, pus or a bad smell from the wound
- Calf swelling, chest pain or sudden shortness of breath (call 911)
- A new lump in either groin at any time after surgery (call your team for a prompt visit)
- Thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) any time
Questions to ask your surgeon
- What stage and grade is my cancer?
- Can you save the head of my penis, or more length, safely?
- How much length will remain, and will I be able to stand to urinate?
- What are my chances of keeping erections and orgasm?
- What is your plan for my groin lymph nodes, and when?
- Is radiation an option for me?
- Will you check the edges during surgery?
- How long will I have the catheter?
- How often will I be checked, and with what tests?
- Are there reconstruction options later if I want them?
- Can you refer me to a counselor, sex therapist or support group?
Words you may hear
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- The most common type of penile cancer. It starts in the flat cells of the skin.
- Penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN)
- Precancerous changes confined to the top layer of skin.
- Glans
- The head of the penis.
- Glansectomy
- Removing the head of the penis and rebuilding a new tip, often with a skin graft.
- Glans resurfacing
- Removing only the skin of the head and covering it with a thin skin graft.
- Partial penectomy
- Removing the end of the penis containing the cancer, keeping the rest of the shaft.
- Total penectomy
- Removing the whole penis, with a new urine opening made between the scrotum and anus.
- Margin
- The rim of healthy tissue removed around a tumor. A clear margin means no cancer at the edge.
- Frozen section
- A quick microscope check of tissue during surgery.
- Neomeatus
- The new opening for urine at the end of the shaft.
- Meatal stenosis
- Narrowing of the urine opening.
- Inguinal lymph nodes
- Lymph nodes in the groin, where penile cancer usually spreads first.
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
- A common virus spread by skin contact during sex. Some types raise the risk of penile cancer.
Common questions
Will I be able to stand to urinate?
Most men can. It depends on how much length remains. If the shaft is very short, sitting may be easier, and some men use a small funnel.
Can I still have sex and orgasm?
Many men can. The remaining erectile chambers still fill with blood, and orgasm and ejaculation are often preserved. Sex may feel different, and confidence can take time to return.
Is my partner at risk?
Penile cancer itself cannot be passed to a partner. HPV, which is linked to many penile cancers, can be shared through sex. Partners should keep up with their own routine screening, and HPV vaccination is recommended for young people.
Why do my groin lymph nodes need to be checked?
Penile cancer usually spreads to the groin nodes first, sometimes before they feel enlarged. Finding and treating spread early improves the chance of cure. Your team will explain whether you need monitoring, a sentinel node biopsy, or a node dissection.
Can the penis be made longer later?
In selected men, reconstructive operations can make more of the remaining shaft visible, for example by releasing a ligament or removing fat above the pubic bone. Ask whether this could help you once the cancer is treated.
Did I cause this?
No. Many factors play a role, including viruses and skin conditions you cannot control. What matters now is treatment and follow-up.
Will I need chemotherapy or radiation?
Not usually for cancer limited to the penis. If the lymph nodes contain cancer, your team may recommend chemotherapy or radiation as well.
Sources this page draws on
- European Association of Urology and American Society of Clinical Oncology, EAU-ASCO Collaborative Guidelines on Penile Cancer
- American Cancer Society, Penile Cancer
- Urology Care Foundation, Penile Cancer
- European Association of Urology, EAU Patient Information: Penile Cancer
Written November 2026. This page explains what usually happens. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with your own surgeon, whose plan for you comes first.