Step 1: Know Your Great

One of the best ways for you to detect cancer early is to create a benchmark of what is normal for you. We say “Know Your Great.” Paying attention to how you feel when you’re at your best will help you notice persistent, subtle changes in your overall health. The word persistent is important. After all, without something to compare to, you might not realize something has changed and is different.

When it comes to your health, you’re the expert.

Self Exams | Screenings

Cancer reveals itself in different ways. To be able to recognize changes in your own body, it’s important to know how you feel when you feel great or what is normal for you. Start by becoming aware of your normal energy level, sleep patterns, pain, weight, bathroom habits and motor control—as well as what your skin looks like. Being aware and benchmarking your health will help you recognize changes that may be signs of cancer.

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Determine What’s Normal for You

Ask Yourself These Questions

• Typical energy level: Do you have normal energy? Are you fatigued?
• Sleep pattern: What is your regular routine? Do you generally need five hours of sleep, six, eight, ten? When you wake in the morning, are you rested and ready to take on the day?
• Weight: Many people note weight fluctuations, but do you generally know why your weight has changed? Do you pay attention if you have unexplained weight loss? How’s your appetite?
• Motor control and reflexes: Are you always steady on your feet? (This is not about athletic ability, but functional balance.)
• Bowel habits: How ‘regular’ are you? Do you look at your poop? Has anything changed? Do you ever see blood in your stools?
• Skin: Have you noted where you have freckles and moles? Do you pay attention to whether or not they have changed over time? Do they itch? Are they raised?
• Lumps and bumps: Do you have any on your body? Were they always there? Have they changed or grown? Do you check on them?
• Pain, discomfort levels, or fever: Are you experiencing persistent and unexplained pain or discomfort? How long has it lasted? Prolonged fever?

For additional questions and a template to track your health changes, visit the Health Tracker page.

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Do Regular Self-Exams

Part of Knowing Your Great is performing regular self-exams. Create a baseline of what is normal for you. When you consistently perform self-exams, you’ll know what is normal for you and you’ll be the first to recognize changes.

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Regular screenings can be life-saving.

Stay proactive, consult your healthcare provider, and make room for these check-ups on your calendar!

Stay Ahead with these 4 Essential CDC-Recommended Cancer Screenings! 

The CDC recommendations for cancer screenings vary by age, gender, and risk factors. If you’re symptom-free, here are the screenings you should consider to stay ahead of the game. Always chat with your healthcare provider for advice tailored to you. 

Bonus Screenings to Consider (Lucky you!) 

References:
CDC. “Cancer Screening Tests.” Cancer, 7 May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prevention/screening.html.Top of FormBottom of Form 
“Prostate Cancer Screening: Should You Get a PSA Test?” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psatest/in-depth/prostate-cancer/art-20048087. Accessed 25 June 2024. 

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Follow These Quick Tips

• Make notes or use your calendar app to log how you feel each day. You can also track your energy, pain level, stomach issues, possible injuries, and start dates of a flu or cold.
• Take a picture of each mole or skin change with a pencil tip or ruler next to it for a size and shape point of reference. Record the date, and then use it as the basis of comparison two weeks later — has it changed in any way?
• Build awareness of your normal health. Have annual physicals with your doctor to benchmark your health, and do regular skin, breast and testicular self-exams. Take a moment in the morning or at night to pause and pay attention to your physical self. Do a body scan, head to toe, and reflect on how everything feels.