When Shall I Ask for a Second Opinion in Specialized Centers and How Can I Find Them? Do I Need a Medical Therapy in My Disease Course?

BACKGROUND

Penile cancer is an uncommon malignancy in the United States and most developed countries, with higher incidence in the developing nations of Africa, Asia, and South America. Standard treatment involves a urologist, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist to deliver multimodal treatment in an integrated fashion. This article will discuss the patterns of specialty referral that are important for men affected by penile cancer.

DATA SOURCES: An electronic literature search using PubMed was conducted. Clinical experience also informed the article.

CONCLUSION

Nurses and other health care providers caring for patients with penile cancer do not always have prior experience with this rare disease. Referral to a high-volume specialty center for multidisciplinary management is often appropriate. Additionally, evidence suggests that men affected by penile cancer experience a range of unmet supportive care needs involving their physical, psychological, and sexual well-being. Timely and appropriate specialty referrals are a means for helping patients maintain an acceptable quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It is important that oncology nurses understand and anticipate the need for referrals to specialized centers for definitive treatment of locoregional penile cancer. Nurses are also positioned to facilitate specialty referrals and deliver complex supportive care interventions.