A Man's Mission
- Paul Keeney noticed a small blemish on his penis that hadn’t been there before and decided to get it checked out by a doctor. The doctor diagnosed him with penile cancer. Despite eight surgeries and chemotherapy, Keeney passed away from the disease when it had spread.
- Keeney spent his last few years becoming an advocate for penile and testicular cancer awareness and research. After his passing, his wife Cheryl continued his legacy.
- The human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted disease, has shown to be linked to a number of cancers including oral, anal and penile cancers.
In 2017, Keeney noticed a small blemish on his penis that hadn’t been there before and decided to get it checked out by a doctor. The doctor diagnosed him with penile cancer, and Keeney immediately started going through treatment. Despite going through eight surgeries and chemotherapy, the cancer spread to his kidneys, lungs, and liver. Keeney passed away in March 2019. While going through treatment, Keeney decided to use this opportunity to raise awareness about penile cancer and encourage men to be vigilant about possible symptoms. After his passing, his wife Cheryl decided to continue Keeney’s hard work.
Read MoreTesticular cancer survivor Mark Borja makes it his mission to spread awareness
HPV’S Link to Penile Cancer
The human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted disease, has shown to be linked to a number of cancers including oral, anal, and penile cancers. About 80% of people who are sexually active end up infected with HPV at some point in their lives. Most of the time, the body's immune system naturally clears the HPV on its own and the person never experiences health problems or symptoms. But in some cases, if someone has contracted one of the "high-risk" strains of HPV, the infection might linger over a long period of time, ultimately damaging cell DNA and resulting in cancer-causing mutations.
Related: What is HPV? And Does it Cause Cancer?
According to research, HPV is responsible for 34,800 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year90 percent of which could be prevented with the HPV vaccine. First introduced in 2006 under its brand name Gardasil, this vaccine is extremely effective in preventing certain cancers.
Anal cancer survivor Justine Almada on why she advocates for HPV awareness
Men Dismiss Symptoms Too Often
When something in your body feels off, it never hurts to talk to a doctor about it. However, this is often easier said than done. Unlike women, who will report symptoms to their doctor but sometimes be brushed off, men sometimes ignore a doctor visit as long as possible.
This was the case for testicular cancer survivor Todd Rosenbluth, who was one of those guys who avoided the doctor at all costs. He led a healthy lifestyle, so he reasoned with himself that a routine check-up wasn't really necessary. It was Rosenbluth’s wife who pushed him to schedule a visit, and it ended up being be the best decision he could have made. Now, he's an advocate for early detection.
"My wife definitely saved my life," Rosenbluth previously told SurvivorNet. "Luckily when I caught the testicular cancer it was so early that I'm totally fine to this day, and it's because of her. Testicular cancer is 99% curable if it's caught early enough. The only way to catch it is self exam or go to the doctor. If you're worried don't be ashamed, guys. Go to the doctor."
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