First U.S. Penis Transplant Is Success

A cancer victim has become the first man in the United States to receive a penis transplant, The New York Times reports. Thomas Manning, a 64-year-old bank courier, had his penis removed because of cancer and underwent the 15-hour experimental surgery earlier this month. The newspaper reports that the transplanted organ came from a matched deceased donor. "I want to go back to being who I was," he told the paper. His doctor called the surgery "uncharted waters" and said the team was "cautiously optimistic." Ultimately, they hope the surgery can be used to help more cancer patients, accident victims and combat veterans. If the recovery is successful, Manning will be able to urinate normally in a few weeks and sexually function in months. One successful penis transplant was performed in South Africa in 2014. The man who received the transplant was ultimately able to father a child.