In March 2019, Steven Hamill, then 26, noticed a 'death smell' coming from his genitals. He had already visited his GP when the head of his penis swelled to four times its normal size, but the doctor dismissed it as balanitis, an infection causing swelling, itching, and soreness. The following month, doctors delivered a shocking diagnosis: penile cancer, requiring a circumcision and the amputation of four inches of his penis.
Ignored Symptoms
Steven recalled applying steroid cream for two weeks without any improvement. 'By this point I was in so much pain. It felt like someone was poking a needle into the end of my penis,' he said. 'The only way I could get a little bit of pain-free time was in the bathroom or I’d be rocking on the floor. Then, the smell started. I would describe this smell as death. It followed me round, it was awful and other people could smell it.'
Despite having 'every sign and symptom' of penile cancer, his GP told him it 'couldn’t be cancer' because he was only 26. The situation worsened when he passed out in his brother’s car and woke up in a pool of blood in April, leading to an emergency hospital visit. He was transferred to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, where he received the penile cancer diagnosis.
The Amputation
To eliminate the cancer, surgeons performed a partial penectomy, removing four inches of his penis along with his foreskin. This procedure aims to excise cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, according to the British Association of Urological Surgeons. Fortunately, Steven’s penis was eight inches long—two-and-a-half inches longer than the UK average of 5.63 inches—leaving him with a four-inch penis after surgery.
Penile Cancer Facts
Penile cancer is rare and primarily affects men over 50. It targets the skin of the penis and foreskin. Symptoms include a growth, lump, or sore that does not heal within four weeks; a rash; bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin; a smelly discharge; difficulty retracting the foreskin (phimosis); or a change in skin color. Additional signs may include a lump in the groin, abdominal pain, fatigue, or weight loss. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor, though they do not necessarily indicate cancer.
Life After Surgery
Steven is now in remission but gained an unfortunate nickname from friends: 'Stumpy.' He explained, 'I was rather well endowed beforehand so [having] four inches in full removed dropped me down to around four inches. So [my penis] is still fully functional and working. I was really lucky… because if I was average I would’ve gone down to about one or two inches, and that functionality isn’t really there anymore.'
The single food industry worker insists the surgery has not affected his dating life or ability to have sex, and he even has a four-year-old son. 'It changes from person to person when I tell dates about my surgery. Sometimes I make a joke about it instantly. It’s never been an issue with anyone I’ve dated, but it’s more me adapting and learning new things. I’ve got a whole new tool to figure out how to function because it’s completely different.'
Despite this, he sometimes struggles with self-consciousness. 'When it comes to intimacy, sometimes I get in my head and think “she’s going to think it [my penis] looks really weird.” I get self conscious all the time. I was told I would never have kids because the surgery happened on my urethra, and I now have a four-year-old boy. Everything is still functional and I can still have kids.'
Raising Awareness
Steven is now sharing his story to urge men to get unusual symptoms checked, as cancer can strike at any age. 'It took me years to adapt because you put yourself in the darkest place ever. Every time I went to bed I would think, “is this the night I’m going to die? Will I see next week? Should I make plans for next week?”' He also experiences occasional 'phantom pain' that triggers fears of recurrence. 'I have vivid dreams about going through it all and being told I have cancer. I think it was so much to go through in five months and it was such a rollercoaster of emotions it felt like years.'
His advice is simple: 'If anything doesn’t feel right, don’t be embarrassed and see if it goes away. Reach out, even if it’s to me online, and I could guide you, but 100% reach out and don’t leave it too late.'
