Prevention

It isn't always possible to prevent penile cancer, but you can reduce your chances of getting it.

Oneof the mainways you can reduceyour chances of developing penile cancer is to give up smoking (if you smoke).

It's also important to maintaingood penis hygiene to prevent the bacterial and viral infections thatcan increase the risk of penile cancer.

This is easier if you were circumcised as a child, but there are steps you can take if you haven't been circumcised. Simple penis hygiene can include:

• using condoms to help reduce the possibility of catching HPV
• regularly washing your penis with warm water, including under the foreskin

There's little evidence to suggest that being circumcised as an adult will reduce your chances of developing penile cancer. However, if you have sores that don't heal, or if it's becoming increasingly difficult toclean under your foreskin, seek advice from your GPabout the possibility of circumcision .

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