Me extirparon el 30% del pene para salvarme la vida: por esta razón dejé que filmaran la cirugía – La Prensa – Noticias de Nicaragua y el mundo

Alastair Munro, a 49-year-old construction engineer, has shared his experience with a rare form of penile cancer to raise awareness about the symptoms of the disease. Munro underwent a complex seven-hour surgical procedure that resulted in the removal of 30% of his penis and the excision of lymph nodes in his groin.

The diagnostic process began when Munro noticed a small lump on his penis. Although he delayed visiting a physician for approximately six weeks, a subsequent examination led a doctor to warn him that the growth could be cancer.

Following this initial warning, a urologist at Raigmore Hospital expressed the same suspicion. A biopsy was then conducted to confirm the diagnosis. Three months after first noticing the lump, Munro received confirmation that he was suffering from penile cancer, a condition described as infrequent.

Munro described the initial medical warning as a fairly blunt statement.

I was in shock. They couldn’t confirm it 100%, but they suspected it was cancer.

Alastair Munro

Further medical imaging via a computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed that the cancer was spreading. This finding necessitated an aggressive surgical intervention to prevent further progression of the disease.

Surgical Intervention and Reconstruction

The subsequent medical procedure lasted seven hours. The complex operation involved the total removal of the tumor, which required the excision of 30% of Munro’s penis.

Surgeons also discovered that the cancer had spread to the inguinal lymph nodes located in the groin. These lymph nodes were also extracted during the surgery to ensure the malignancy was addressed.

To restore functionality and form, the surgical team reconstructed the penis using a skin graft harvested from Munro’s thigh.

Raising Public Health Awareness

Munro chose to have his surgical journey documented by a team of cameras from the BBC. The footage was featured in an episode of the medical documentary series Surgeons: At The Edge of Life.

The decision to allow the filming of the surgery was driven by a desire to alert other men to the symptoms of penile cancer and the importance of early detection.

Reflecting on the diagnosis, Munro noted that he had never heard of this specific type of cancer prior to his own experience, stating that things moved quite quickly after that.

The case highlights the critical nature of prompt medical evaluation when unusual growths or lumps are detected, as delays in seeking care can contribute to the spread of the disease to the lymphatic system.