I Never Thought I’d Be Reading About Penectomy—But I’m Glad I Did
I’ll be honest: I didn’t even know what a penectomy was until a few weeks ago. It came up in a casual conversation with a friend who works in healthcare. “It’s when part or all of the penis is surgically removed,” he said, almost too matter-of-factly. I blinked, shocked. People go through that? And then, like any curious person with a million tabs open, I fell down the rabbit hole.
What I found wasn’t just medical jargon—it was stories of resilience, survival, and transformation.
The Basics: Why Someone Might Need a Penectomy
Most penectomies happen because of late-stage penile cancer. It’s rare, but when it occurs, doctors often have to act fast to remove the cancerous tissue before it spreads. Depending on how advanced things are, a patient might have a partial penectomy (where part of the penis is removed) or a total penectomy (complete removal).
I came across a super detailed breakdown of the surgery and recovery process. It covered everything from how the surgery is done to what pain management looks like afterward. If you want to learn more, here’s the article that really opened my eyes:
https://askdocdoc.com/articles/752-penectomy-surgery-procedure-recovery-and-pain-management
More Than Just a Procedure: The Emotional Side
One of the most powerful things I read was a post where someone described waking up after surgery and not recognizing their own body. That post stuck with me—it was from X (formerly Twitter):
https://x.com/1881713393369030656/status/1948390295998984607
It reminded me how surgeries like these aren’t just physically taxing—they challenge everything you think you know about yourself.
I also found this Pinterest board that shares recovery tips, wellness routines, and body-positive practices that help people reconnect with themselves:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279436367618
And on Threads, there’s this post that talks about how important doctor-patient communication is during such a vulnerable time. It's the kind of thing that feels small until it isn’t:
https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DMfnLv4RyZ5
Identity, Rebuilding, and Redefining Yourself
It’s not always about loss. For some, especially in gender-affirming contexts, penectomy is part of a personal journey. I came across an Instagram post where someone described the procedure as a step toward becoming more aligned with who they are—not less. It totally shifted how I thought about it:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMfnMmxsilH/
On Facebook, I read a public post that really got people talking. It was about how little awareness there is around penile cancer, and how many men delay checkups out of shame or fear. The conversation was raw, but it felt real:
https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122134384184743210
Even the professional world is weighing in. A urologist on LinkedIn shared a thoughtful post about the surgery, but what stood out was his call for better emotional and psychological support for patients:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/askdocdoc_understanding-the-nuances-of-penectomy-surgery-activity-7354156055116808199-WXTm
What This Taught Me
Before this, I saw surgery as just… surgery. Something clinical. But now, I see it as deeply human. Whether someone is fighting cancer, navigating gender identity, or healing from trauma, penectomy is about more than what’s removed—it’s about what comes next.
And honestly? I think we all need to talk about this more. Not to sensationalize it—but to normalize care, support, and understanding.