As of: April 7, 2024, 9:47 p.m
By: Lennart Schwenck
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As with many diseases, the same applies to cancer: the earlier it is detected, the better. A timely diagnosis can save lives. Some signs help.
Kassel – Cancer is one of the most threatening diseases of our time, but early detection increases the chances of recovery. A first preventive measure is regular self-examination, especially of the breast, testicles and lymph nodes, as the tissue there is soft and can be easily examined yourself. Breast self-examination is an important method for early detection of breast cancer.
But even in addition to medical checks, warning signs can indicate an illness. The symptoms should be taken seriously and clarified by a doctor. Because many of them can seem inconspicuous or, at first glance, can be mistakenly attributed to more harmless causes.
Skin appearance, fatigue, weight: various signs can indicate cancer
With other types of cancer such as pancreatic, colon, lung or brain tumors, self-examination is more difficult. This type of cancer often goes undetected. However, there are warning signs that can indicate a potentially malignant disease.
You should not ignore the following symptoms:
Thickening or lump in the breast or other part of the body
Skin changes such as a lump that bleeds or peels, a new mole or change in a mole, a wound that does not heal, or a yellowish color to the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Unusual bleeding or bruising for no apparent reason
Weight loss or gain of four to five kilos for no apparent reason
Fatigue or extreme tiredness that does not improve with rest
Persistent fever or night sweats
Severe, persistent headaches
Persistent cough or constant hoarseness
Persistent changes in bowel habits such as constipation or diarrhea, or severe changes in stools
Pain when urinating, blood in the urine, or urinating more often or less often
Persistent, regular vision or hearing problems
Long-term pain, especially when it occurs new or for no apparent reason
Eating problems such as a lack of hunger, difficulty swallowing, stomach pain or nausea and vomiting
Noticeable, long-lasting swelling on the body
(Source: cancer.org)
Breast Cancer Self-Examination: Important Steps for Early Detection
According to the Center for Cancer Registry Data, one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. To minimize the risk, there are a few steps
recommended by the
National Breast Cancer Foundation
when self-examining breast cancer. First, look at your breasts in the mirror and pay attention to changes such as size, shape or color of the nipples. Then raise your arms and slowly move them up and down while noting changes such as skin folds, retractions, or bulges.
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Detecting cancer early can be life-saving. That's why you should examine yourself regularly. © Imago Images
Place one hand behind your head and systematically feel your chest with the middle three fingers of the other hand. Start from the outside and work your way toward the nipple in smaller circles or lines. Look for knots or hardening and vary the pressure to reach deeper layers of tissue.
Early detection is crucial: paying attention to possible symptoms
Around 70,550 new cases of breast cancer have been recorded in recent years, as well as over 6,000 cases of in-situ tumors. This is a tumor that has only spread in its original tissue and has not yet grown invasively into neighboring tissue. Men make up around one percent of patients and the risk should not be underestimated either.
Look out for the following signs:
A breast changes shape or size
You feel a hardness or lump in one breast or armpit
The skin on one breast is scaly or red
A breast tightens, hurts or swells
When you lift an arm, one breast changes differently than the other
A nipple retracts or you notice another change in the nipple
The skin on your breast tightens in one place (“orange peel”) or swells
A nipple releases a clear or bloody fluid
Source: Breast Cancer.de
Regular medical examinations and self-observation are the key to early detection of cancer. They can help detect cancer in its early stages and improve the chances of recovery. In addition to ultrasound examinations, mammography screening in particular has proven itself as a method for diagnosing breast cancer.
The costs for a regular examination are covered by health insurance companies. Women between the ages of 50 and 69 are entitled to a mammogram every two years. Women aged 30 and over can visit their gynecologist every year. Cervical cancer can be screened annually from age 20 and every three years from age 35. Prostate cancer examinations are carried out annually for men aged 45 and over, as the Federal Ministry of Health informs. (
ls
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