Overview

• Patrick Howard, 65, was initially told his symptoms could be thrush in April 2020 before an October diagnosis confirmed aggressive, HPV‑linked penile cancer with a terminal outlook.
• He underwent a two‑thirds penectomy, followed by lymph‑node surgery and radiotherapy after referral from Clatterbridge to The Christie.
• Persistent lumps led to two chemotherapy courses, including TIP, which he says was a rarely used option for penile cancer at the specialist centre.
• Since finishing TIP in October 2023, he has required no further treatment, with no progression reported and surveillance scans every six months.
• With International Penile Cancer Awareness Day approaching, he urges men to seek checks early and speak openly about genital symptoms and HPV.