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After ignoring his symptoms for 12 months, the 82-year-old finally went to hospital to seek help.

The patient – from India – was suffering from a huge ulcer on his penis as well as severe swelling and skin shedding.

Doctors drained the pus-filled swelling next to his penis and he was prescribed antibiotics – but things only got worse for the man.

Two weeks later, the OAP was rushed to hospital after the ulcer caused his penis to fall off and rot.

Dr Gaurav Garg, from King George’s Medical University said a clinical examination revealed the ulcer caused the man’s penis to drop off.

The man also had hard lumps down the left hand side of his groin, despite denying any history of sexually transmitted infection.

Tests on the “residual penile stump” revealed the man had squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.

The loss of his penis damaged the man’s urethra leaving him unable to go to the toilet.

Although doctors performed surgery to construct a catheter to allow him to wee, the man died 15 days later.

Dr Gaurav said: “In the present case, the patient neglected his initial symptoms and eventually developed penile auto-amputation (his penis fell off), inguinal abscess and widespread metastasis.

"Auto-amputation of the penis due to carcinoma penis is very rarely reported in the literature.

"Auto-amputation of the penis can occur either due to tumour embolism blocking end arteries or due to direct tumour invasion."

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The doctor said it was likely the man allowed his condition to worsen due to a lack of knowledge about available medical treatments.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer, this usually occurs on the outer layer.

These keratinocyte cells are mainly found on the face, neck, bald scalps, arms, back of hands and lower legs.

Like all cancer, if has been left untreated it can cause side-effects or death.

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Signs and symptoms of skin cancer:

1. Smooth and pearly skin

2. Looks waxy

3. Appears as a firm, red lump

4. Bleed sometimes

5. Develop a crust or scab

6. Begins to heal but never completely

7. Itchy

8. Looks like a flat red spot, which is scaly and crusty