Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

The impact of diagnosis and treatment of penile cancer on intimacy: a qualitative assessment

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 37, pages 759–765 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Penile cancer is a rare malignancy (0.5–0.93/100,000 in Western countries) with significant psychosocial and sexual repercussions. This qualitative study explored the impact of penile cancer diagnosis and treatment on intimacy. A convenience sample was identified of 20 potential candidates who were at least 5 months post penile cancer surgery at a hospital centralizing penile cancer care. Participants were recruited by telephone and admitted until data saturation was reached, resulting in a sample of nine men (44–74 years old), none withdrew from participation. All interviews were performed by the same female researcher with no prior relationship to the men. The one-time interviews (35–61 min) followed a semi-structured interview guide, were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Three researchers analysed the data independently using descriptive phenomenological analysis, resulting in a gradually drawn up coding tree mapping out the patient’s journey. The central themes that emerged were: (1) Intimate area led to diagnostic delays, intensified diagnosis and induced secrecy; (2) Impact on sexuality prior to surgery; (3) The voyage of sexual re-discovery; (4) A partnered voyage of sexual discovery; (5) Care needs related to intimate area. This study highlights the need for comprehensive and personalized care, including pre-surgical information provision and post-surgical psychosexual support. Addressing the current unmet needs of men with penile cancer requires guidelines for psychosexual interventions and proactive efforts to reduce stigma and to raise awareness.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Fu L, Tian T, Yao K, Chen X-F, Luo G, Gao Y, et al. Global pattern and trends in penile cancer incidence: population-based study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2022;8:e34874.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Cancer Research UK. Penile cancer incidence trends by age. 2024. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/penile-cancer/incidence#heading-One.

  3. Barocas DA, Chang SS. Penile cancer: clinical presentation, diagnosis, and staging. Urol Clin N Am. 2010;37:343–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hakenberg OW, Dräger DL, Erbersdobler A, Naumann CM, Jünemann KP, Protzel C. The diagnosis and treatment of penile cancer. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115:646–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Leijte JA, Kirrander P, Antonini N, Windahl T, Horenblas S. Recurrence patterns of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: recommendations for follow-up based on a two-centre analysis of 700 patients. Eur Urol. 2008;54:161–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wen S, Ren W, Xue B, Fan Y, Jiang Y, Zeng C, et al. Prognostic factors in patients with penile cancer after surgical management. World J Urol. 2018;36:435–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Horenblas S, van Tinteren H. Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. IV. Prognostic factors of survival: analysis of tumor, nodes and metastasis classification system. J Urol. 1994;151:1239–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gordon H, LoBiondo-Wood G, Malecha A. Penis cancer: the lived experience. Cancer Nurs. 2017;40:E30–E38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Skeppner E, Windahl T, Andersson SO, Fugl-Meyer KS. Treatment-seeking, aspects of sexual activity and life satisfaction in men with laser-treated penile carcinoma. Eur Urol. 2008;54:631–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Draeger DL, Sievert KD, Hakenberg OW. Cross-sectional patient-reported outcome measuring of health-related quality of life with establishment of cancer- and treatment-specific functional and symptom scales in patients with penile cancer. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2018;16:e1215–e1220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Dräger DL, Protzel C, Hakenberg OW. Identifying psychosocial distress and stressors using distress-screening instruments in patients with localized and advanced penile cancer. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2017;15:605–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kieffer JM, Djajadiningrat RS, van Muilekom EA, Graafland NM, Horenblas S, Aaronson NK. Quality of life for patients treated for penile cancer. J Urol. 2014;192:1105–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Witty K, Branney P, Evans J, Bullen K, White A, Eardley I. The impact of surgical treatment for penile cancer - patients’ perspectives. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2013;17:661–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ficarra V, Righetti R, D’Amico A, Pilloni S, Balzarro M, Schiavone D, et al. General state of health and psychological well-being in patients after surgery for urological malignant neoplasms. Urol Int. 2000;65:130–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bullen K, Matthews S, Edwards S, Marke V. Exploring men’s experiences of penile cancer surgery to improve rehabilitation. Nurs Times. 2009;105:20–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Törnävä M, Harju E, Vasarainen H, Pakarainen T, Perttilä I, Kaipia A. Men’s experiences of the impact of penile cancer surgery on their lives: a qualitative study. Eur J Cancer Care. 2022;31:e13548.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Maddineni SB, Lau MM, Sangar VK. Identifying the needs of penile cancer sufferers: a systematic review of the quality of life, psychosexual and psychosocial literature in penile cancer. BMC Urol. 2009;9:8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. D’Ancona CA, Botega NJ, De Moraes C, Lavoura NS Jr, Santos JK, Rodrigues Netto N Jr. Quality of life after partial penectomy for penile carcinoma. Urology 1997;50:593–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Yu C, Hequn C, Longfei L, Minfeng C, Zhi C, Feng Z, et al. Sexual function after partial penectomy: a prospectively study from China. Sci Rep. 2016;6:21862.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Sansalone S, Silvani M, Leonardi R, Vespasiani G, Iacovelli V. Sexual outcomes after partial penectomy for penile cancer: results from a multi-institutional study. Asian J Androl. 2017;19:57–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Romero FR, Romero KR, Mattos MA, Garcia CR, Fernandes Rde C, Perez MD. Sexual function after partial penectomy for penile cancer. Urology 2005;66:1292–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ussher JM, Perz J, Gilbert E, Wong WK, Hobbs K. Renegotiating sex and intimacy after cancer: resisting the coital imperative. Cancer Nurs. 2013;36:454–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mortensen GL, Jakobsen JK. Patient perspectives on quality of life after penile cancer. Dan Med J 2013;60:A4655.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bullen K, Edwards S, Marke V, Matthews S. Looking past the obvious: experiences of altered masculinity in penile cancer. Psychooncology. 2010;19:933–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Opjordsmoen S, Waehre H, Aass N, Fossa SD. Sexuality in patients treated for penile cancer: patients’ experience and doctors’ judgement. Br J Urol. 1994;73:554–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Skeppner E, Fugl-Meyer K. Dyadic aspects of sexual well-being in men with laser-treated penile carcinoma. Sex Med. 2015;3:67–75.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Paterson C, Primeau C, Bowker M, Jensen B, MacLennan S, Yuan Y, et al. What are the unmet supportive care needs of men affected by penile cancer? A systematic review of the empirical evidence. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2020;48:101805.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Neubauer BE, Witkop CT, Varpio L. How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others. Perspect Med Educ. 2019;8:90–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Teherani A, Martimianakis T, Stenfors-Hayes T, Wadhwa A, Varpio L. Choosing a qualitative research approach. J Grad Med Educ. 2015;7:669–70.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Saunders B, Sim J, Kingstone T, Baker S, Waterfield J, Bartlam B, et al. Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Qual Quant. 2018;52:1893–907.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Giorgi A. The descriptive phenomenological psychological method. J Phenomenol Psychol. 2012;43:3–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Giorgi A. The phenomenological movement and research in the human sciences. Nurs Sci Q 2005;18:75–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Attalla K, Paulucci DJ, Blum K, Anastos H, Moses KA, Badani KK, et al. Demographic and socioeconomic predictors of treatment delays, pathologic stage, and survival among patients with penile cancer: a report from the National Cancer Database. Urol Oncol. 2018;36:14.e17–14.e24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Moura CV, Vasconcelos PC, Carrito ML, Tavares IM, Teixeira PM, Nobre PJ. The role of men’s sexual beliefs on sexual function/dysfunction: a systematic review. J Sex Res. 2023;60:989–1003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Müller B, Nienaber CA, Reis O, Kropp P, Meyer W. Sexuality and affection among elderly German men and women in long-term relationships: results of a prospective population-based study. PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e111404.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Sandberg L. Just feeling a naked body close to you: men, sexuality and intimacy in later life. Sexualities. 2013;16:261–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Delaunay B, Soh PN, Delannes M, Riou O, Malavaud B, Moreno F, et al. Brachytherapy for penile cancer: efficacy and impact on sexual function. Brachytherapy 2014;13:380–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Camille Roumieux, Laurence Royakkers.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Camille Roumieux & Eline Dancet

  2. Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Laurence Royakkers & Maarten Albersen

Authors
  1. Camille Roumieux
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laurence Royakkers
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maarten Albersen
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eline Dancet
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conception and design: LR, MA, and ED. Data acquisition: LR. Phenomenological analysis: LR, ED, and CR. Analysis and interpretation of data: LR, ED, and CR. Drafting of Manuscript: CR and ED. Critical revision of manuscript: CR, ED, and MA. Supervision: ED and MA. Approval of the final manuscript: ED, MA. Funding: N/A.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maarten Albersen.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted after obtaining approval from the Research Ethics Committee of UZ/KU Leuven. The study adhered to the Helsinki protocols and patients provided written, informed consent.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roumieux, C., Royakkers, L., Albersen, M. et al. The impact of diagnosis and treatment of penile cancer on intimacy: a qualitative assessment. Int J Impot Res 37, 759–765 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00992-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00992-6

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links