Cancer of the penis is very rare in Europe.It is most often diagnosed in men over the age of 60 years. There are about 360 cases in the UK every year. The exact cause of cancer of the penis is not known, but it is thought that it could be related to general hygiene, and it is much less common in men who have been circumcised. This is because men who have not been circumcised may find it more difficult to pull back the foreskin enough to clean thoroughly underneath. Infection with a type of virus (human papilloma virus) that causes warts on the penis also increases the risk of penis cancer.