What is inguinal cancer? Know the symptoms and treatment

Anderson Leonardo vocalist of Molejo Group , was hospitalized again on Sunday (24). The singer was hospitalized again due to the worsening of the inguinal cancer a rare type of tumor that affects the entire groin region, according to a statement released by the press office.

The singer was diagnosed with inguinal cancer in 2022. Anderson had been discharged last Tuesday (19), but was hospitalized again due to his worsening condition.

What is inguinal cancer?

According to Denis Jardim, clinical oncologist and member of the Genitourinary Tumors Committee of the SBOC (Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology), the “inguinal cancer “In reality, it is not a specific type of cancer, but rather a set of cancers that can affect the inguinal region .

“The inguinal region is the anatomical definition of the part popularly known as the groin, where there are some important structures, mainly fibrotic fests, skin, tendons and lymph nodes — where the majority of tumors in this region often occur”, explains the specialist to CNN .

In other words, inguinal cancer often is related to the metastasis (spread) of other tumors to the groin region . Among the tumors that are related to the appearance of cancer in the inguinal region are bladder cancer, penile cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer and colorectal cancer.

“It is possible that they have tumors that start in the structures of the inguinal region, which are the lymph nodes. This is the case of some hematological diseases, such as lymphomas, which present themselves as an increase in nodules in the inguinal region, and tumors in the skin in that region, such as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma”, says Jardim.

What are the causes and risk factors?

Because it is related to the metastasis of other tumors, one of the causes of inguinal cancer is precisely the existence of another tumor in the pelvic region . But this is not the only risk factor.

“Some types of cancer are related to risk factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, infections and autoimmune diseases”, says Breno Gusmão, oncohematologist at BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa in São Paulo.

A severity of inguinal cancer will depend on the cause . “If the tumor in the inguinal region is a metastasis of cancer in another organ, this already denotes an advanced disease. On the other hand, a skin lesion in the region could be a tumor still located in the region”, adds Jardim.

Symptoms of inguinal cancer

The manifestation of symptoms of cancer in the inguinal region may depend on different factors, as Gusmão explains: “If the primary tumor is producing symptoms; if there are localized symptoms, due to the growth of the tumor in the inguinal region, which can cause local pain; neuropathy and thrombosis of local veins”, he explains.

Generally, the symptoms that can be observed when a tumor affects the inguinal region are:

• Lump in the inguinal region;
• Local pain;
• Bleeding from the nodule and secondary infections;
• General symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite and unwarranted weight loss.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis of inguinal cancer is done through biopsy , collected by a thick needle, or surgical incision. “Normally, a piece of the lesion or the entire lesion is extracted and a laboratory examination is carried out to identify the type of cancer that caused it”, says Jardim.

Already Treatment varies depending on the type of neoplasia diagnosed — whether it is lymphoma or another type, or, in the case of metastasis, which cancer caused it. “For each disease there is a treatment strategy, as well as how advanced the disease is, whether localized or disseminated”, says Gusmão.

Treatment options may include surgery, whether or not accompanied by radiotherapy, and, in some cases, chemotherapy.