Question Title: Possible penile cancer?

I am 24 years old and uncircumcised. In May of 1997 I developed what I thought to be yeast infecton. I had had one 2 years previous and the symptoms looked similar. I called my physician and he agreed that it was probably a recurrence and prescribed me an anti-fungal cream to apply. I noticed after a few days that the inflamation actually became worse and so i called him back, at which point he prescribed me another cream, which also was not effective. This started a lengthy process. I saw a couple urologists and dermatologists and all of them could not give a straight answer as to what I had. My symptoms included red patches of inflamation, physical discomfort, occasional burning sensations, shiny and sometimes, dry and flaky skin. I eventually saw a very well renowned uroligist in New York, who told me just to stop using everything becuase he beleived that I had become hypersensative. Eventually after three more months the symptoms and conditions went away. I had the condition for about 8 months in total. The condition with similar symtoms retuned later in 1998 and have been recurring ever since then. I am completely at a loss as to where to turn next and feel like no doctor of the eight I have seen can diagnose what is wrong with me. I have begun to think that these are signs of cancer. Do you have any recomendations as to who or where I should turn. I would appreciate any help you can give me.

It sounds like you have been on a roller coaster ride trying to find the reason(s) behind these developments. It is, as you can guess, impossible for any physician to diagnose your problem via the internet. Whatever you have, you must be seen by a urologist again. From the descriptions you have provided, and the fact that you have been seen by dermatologists and urologists while the condition was actively present, it is unlikely that you have cancer. These physicians would have been able to ascertain such a finding as that. However, you say that the symptoms had resolved spontaneously yet now have returned. You do not say whether you have used any medications that would have caused either the cessation or return of the symptoms, nor whether or not you are sexually active and may have contracted some form of STD. In a healthy man who is not immunocompromised or who does not have conditions such as diabetes, a fungal infection of the penis is uncommon. The fact that you are uncircumcised may predispose you to develop this condition; only by consulting with a urologist would you be able to really rule that connection out. Often adult men choose to be circumcised because of ongoing problems that can be greatly reduced or eliminated by circumcision.
You may want to return to the same "renowned urologist in New York" now that the problem has returned and you are free of medications.

This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653-6568).

Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-BE
*keyword: penile skin inflammation