Look and feel: If you regularly check your own body for changes, you can detect cancer earlier. How best to go about this.
No matter where in the body a malignant tumor has formed: the earlier it is discovered, the better the chances of a cure. There are types of cancer that we can track down ourselves. All it takes is a few minutes once a month, for example after a shower. An overview:
1. Detecting skin cancer with the ABCDE rule
The number of skin cancer cases is increasing in Germany: Data from the Federal Statistical Office show that in 2023, 116,900 people were treated as inpatients in hospital with a diagnosis of skin cancer. That’s a good 87.5 percent more than in 2003. An important risk factor for skin cancer is UV radiation from the sun.
Skin cancer: what changes should I look out for?
If moles suddenly appear or change, this may indicate skin cancer. The ABCDE rule helps to assess this. Each letter represents a warning sign that skin cancer may have developed. The German Cancer Society provides an overview:
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A for asymmetry: The mole – new or existing – has developed an uneven shape.
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B for border: The edge of the mole is jagged, blurred, uneven or rough.
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C for Color: Pink, gray, brown, black: Several colors come together in one mole.
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D for diameter: The mole is more than 5 millimeters in diameter or has a hemispherical shape.
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E for Elevation: The mole protrudes more than a millimeter above the skin level and/or has a rough and scaly surface.
Moles on the arms or legs quickly catch our eye. But they can also be found in hidden parts of the body – between the fingers or toes or under the soles of the feet, according to the cancer society. Or even on the scalp. It therefore makes sense to use a hand mirror and perhaps also ask your partner: “Can you look at my back and see if you notice anything there?”
I noticed something. And now?
Did you notice anything during your self-check? Then don’t be shy and have the change checked at the dermatologist’s office. Some practices offer extra consultation hours so that suspicions can be clarified promptly.
Good to know: From the age of 35, people with statutory health insurance are entitled to a skin cancer screening every two years, which is carried out by dermatologists, but also family doctors with appropriate further training. Doctors systematically search the skin for abnormalities; the examination takes around 10 to 20 minutes.
2. Detecting breast cancer by looking and feeling it
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It affects one in eight women during their lifetime, according to the Center for Cancer Registry Data. Reason enough to pay some attention to your own breasts once a month in order to detect cancer early. That’s how it works.
Breast cancer: what to pay attention to during self-examination?
The best thing to do first is to ensure good lighting conditions. Gynecologist Klaus Doubek from the Professional Association of Gynecologists (BVF) recommends first looking carefully at your breasts in the mirror. Has the shape or size changed? Does one breast deform differently than the other when I lift an arm?
Women should also check whether the skin on the breast is pulling inwards at any point, whether it resembles the outside of an orange or whether it is swollen. Red or flaky skin can also be a sign that something is wrong.
When palpating, the main question is: Do I notice any new or unusual hardening or lumps in the breast? You should also check your armpits. If women notice that a breast is pulling, painful or swelling while feeling it, this can also be a warning sign. This also applies if liquid – clear or bloody – comes out of a nipple.
Something seems strange to you? Then the following applies: get it clarified quickly. And take a deep breath beforehand: not every abnormality directly hides cancer.
When is the best time to scan?
By the way, there is a time window of the month that is particularly suitable for scanning: women who have a period should best do this between the 3rd and 7th day after the start of their period, according to the BVF’s advice. The reason: During this time, the glandular tissue in the breast is softest and hardening is more noticeable.
For women without menstruation, such as after menopause, it is best to set aside one fixed day per month. If you set a reminder on your cell phone, you won’t miss it. Discipline pays off: Over time, your own breasts become more and more familiar, and changes are noticed even more quickly.
However, the self-check does not replace early detection examinations in the gynecologist’s office, according to the BVF. Women between the ages of 50 and 75 can also take part in mammography screening every two years for the early detection of breast cancer.
3. Detect testicular cancer by looking and feeling it
Testicular cancer is relatively rare; according to the Center for Cancer Registry Data, around 4,300 men were diagnosed with this in 2022.
One risk factor is age: men between the ages of 20 and 40 are particularly affected. If your father or brother has already been diagnosed with testicular cancer, the risk is also increased. “In addition, men with one or both testicles in the abdomen have a higher risk, even after surgical treatment,” says Axel Merseburger, director of the Urology Clinic at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH).
The good news: Once cancer is discovered, it can be cured in most cases, says Merseburger.
Testicular cancer: how to examine myself?
Men ideally carry out the self-examination once a month, “preferably after a warm shower or bath, as the skin of the scrotum is then relaxed,” advises Axel Merseburger. The best way to do this is to stand in front of a mirror and first check whether you can see any swelling or skin changes.
Then the scanning begins. “Take one testicle at a time between the thumb and index finger of both hands. Roll the testicle gently but thoroughly to examine its surface,” explains Merseburger. If it is smooth and no hardening is noticeable, that is a good sign.
Self-examination also includes checking the epididymis. “It is soft and curved and lies at the top and back of the testicle,” describes Merseburger, who is also press spokesman for the German Society for Urology (DGU).
Which abnormalities should I have checked out?
Do you notice thickening or hardening when you feel it? These are abnormalities that should be checked out by a urologist as soon as possible. “Even small, pea-sized nodules should be taken seriously,” says Axel Merseburger.
If there is enlargement or swelling on one side of the testicles, it is also an abnormality, as is a feeling of pulling or heaviness, “especially if it lasts for a long time.” Even if the testicle feels unusually hard or soft, men should look into it.
Note: This article was first published in 2024 and has since been updated.
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