A man from New Zealand, Joe Merrall, had to undergo surgery to remove a tumor on his penis, which turned out to be penile cancer. Penile cancer is often caused by a sexually transmitted version of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Initially, Merrall had thought the lump on his penis was due to skin irritation from his workout pants chafing, and had sought treatment from his family physician.
However, the lump continued to grow and eventually covered the urethra, making urination painful.
After consulting a specialist and undergoing surgery, more than a third of his penis had to be removed. Merrall has since experienced physical and emotional scars, and has set up a fundraiser to help him financially while he recovers.
He hopes that sharing his story can inspire other men to regularly check for any unusual symptoms and seek medical attention.
