Self-perception of cisgender men after penectomy for penile cancer

Abstract

This study carries out an integrative literature review with the aim of analyzing the available evidence on the self-understanding of cisgender men who have undergone penectomy as a result of penile cancer. It is noteworthy that this pathology is characterized by being a rare neoplasm, with a higher incidence in individuals with penises over the age of 50, representing approximately 2% of all cancers affecting men in Brazil. The research used the PICO strategy to delimit the guiding question, conducting searches in the VHL, LILACS, SciELO and MEDLINE databases, with a time frame from 2019 to 2024. Initially, 947 articles were identified, which were filtered to 183, culminating in the selection of 09 studies that met the inclusion criteria, and those that did not match the proposed theme were excluded. The results of the review show that penile cancer typically presents as a palpable, visible and painless lesion, and can evolve with symptoms such as pain, bleeding, discharge and a foul odor, especially when there is a delay in seeking medical attention. Epidemiological data indicates that between 1992 and 2017, approximately 9,592 hospitalizations for PC were recorded, with a predominance of cases in the Northeast region of the country. In addition, after penectomy, patients seek to reconfigure their masculine identity, adapting and reinterpreting attributes that allow them to recognize themselves as men in society. This re-signification has a significant impact on their social, emotional, work and leisure relationships. It is therefore concluded that, although penile cancer is a low prevalence neoplasm, its psychosocial effects are profound and justify the need for more studies investigating the self-understanding of men after penectomy. This study contributes to the alignment of existing data and serves as a basis for future research that can improve care practices and interventions aimed at this population.