as a urologist i see a lot of patient with growths or bumps on the penis

some patients ask do I have cancer? do I need a biopsy? 

Most patients with a classic wart or HPV do not need a biopsy, patient who are uncircumcised or recurrent growths may consider a biopsy.

Freezing a wart with liquid nitrogen, cauterization, or topical treatments like aldara (imiquimod topical cream)

if you have a wart get to a doctor and have it treated.  A biopsy is not a  bad idea but no always necessary

thanks for all of stories and questions I hope this site can help you fight your personal war on warts. 

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Jessica writes:

“I got married 8 months ago, and 2 months ago, for the first time ever i was diagnosed with HPV. According to the Dr, it didnt necessairly come from my hubsand, but i cant help feel like it did. Thankfully, i have no genital warts or currently any cancer causing lesions, but i Do have a brand new, first time ever skin wart on my knee. Ive just started liquid nitrogen treatment for the removal of that.
Im increadably disspaointed, and borderline terrified. This is a first for me, and while some people say “its no big deal”- to me it is a big deal. this is something ive never had to deal with before and to make it worse, i know next to nothing about the Virus. Ther are so many different websites on it that have s many different opinions, i hardly know which one to believe!!

I think the next best step for me is education myself on this virus, how to treat it, and how to NOt spread it!”

Thanks for writing!  First off… you have found a good place to discuss your concerns.  Please do not be terrified.  Warts are quite common.  Instead… lets get educated!

Your Doctor’s advice is correct.  The wart did not necessarily come from your husband.  You may be able to blame him for lots of things… but you can’t point a finger at him for this one.  Further, the type of wart that grows on the skin is typically a different strain of virus than that found in the genital areas.

There are many treatment options for common warts, and Liquid Nitrogen is often a good place to start.
Best of luck, and keep us updated!

• Common warts arise most often on the backs of fingers or toes, and on the knees.
• Plantar warts (verrucas) include one or more tender inwardly growing ‘myrmecia’ on the sole of the foot.
• Mosaic warts on the sole of the foot are in clusters over an area sometimes several centimetres in diameter.
• Plane, or flat, warts can be very numerous and may be inoculated by shaving.
• Periungual warts prefer to grow at the sides or under the nails and can distort nail growth.
• Filiform warts are on a long stalk.
• Oral warts can affect the lips and even inside the cheeks. They include squamous cell papillomas.
• Genital warts are often transmitted sexually and predispose to cervical, penile and vulval cancer.

In children, even without treatment, 50% of warts disappear within 6 months; 90% are gone in 2 years. They are more persistent in adults but they clear up eventually.

Warts are particularly numerous and troublesome in patients that are immunosuppressed, most often due to medications such as azathioprine or ciclosporin. In these patients, the warts can be especially challenging to treat.

Stay tuned for images of each of the above in comming posts