Maria Schenkel showered every day, yet the same unpleasant smell kept coming back. The 41-year-old had no idea it could would later be followed by the discovery of a hidden breast tumour.

'I remember thinking, why do I smell so bad, because I would have just showered, not sweat at all and then smelled so awful still,' she says. Busy with work and raising a family, she brushed the smell off and carried on.

It was only after finding a lump months later that doctors found a two-inch tumour that had likely been growing for some time. Schenkel was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer.

Cancer and Body Odour

Dr John Riches, a consultant haematologist at Barts and the London NHS Trust, says cancer cells can release compounds into the bloodstream. The body then expels them through blood, sweat and breath, sometimes changing how a person smells.

'What's quite rare is that people are able to smell it themselves,' he says. Rapidly growing cancer cells release tiny chemical particles called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are excreted through the skin, breath, urine and stool.

'When you hear those incredible stories of a dog sensing its owner's cancer, it's VOCs the animal is picking up,' Dr Riches says. He adds that humans, with a weaker sense of smell, may find it harder to notice.

Scientists are now studying whether measuring VOCs could help flag early cancers, including those in the gastrointestinal system, liver and prostate. Major programmes are also examining VOCs from common breast tumours.

Separate research published in The FASEB Journal in 2009 linked a variant of the ABCC11 gene to strong armpit odour and potential breast cancer risk. Professor Toshihisa Ishikawa, the study's senior researcher, said the findings could offer 'a new tool for better prediction of breast cancer risk.'

Symptoms She Dismissed

The smell wasn't the only sign Schenkel missed. She began waking up exhausted, 'like I'd been run over by a bus,' despite sleeping eight or nine hours a night.

'My legs felt incredibly heavy,' she says. 'I honestly thought that was just what turning 40 felt like.'

She also noticed sugar cravings, bloating and unexplained bruising on her legs, but dismissed them too. It wasn't until her four-year-old daughter pressed against her breast, leaving it sore, that she felt firmer tissue underneath.

'I thought it was just dense breast tissue,' she says. 'I really didn't think it would be cancer, but I thought that I should get it checked anyway.'

An ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. 'I couldn't believe it,' Schenkel says. 'I lived a healthy lifestyle. I exercised, ate a plant-based diet, didn't smoke or drink, and there wasn't any history of cancer in my family.'

Nearly 60,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Britain every year, making it the country's most common cancer. Most cases occur in women over 50, but cases among younger women are rising, with around one in five cases diagnosed before the age of 50.

Women under 40 are nearly 40 per cent more likely to die from the disease than older patients, while younger women can also face delays when symptoms are dismissed as hormonal or put down to being too young for cancer.

Schenkel, who now lives in Greenville, South Carolina, underwent a mastectomy and has been cancer-free for two years. 'I've met a lot of people through this journey who said they ignored symptoms because they were busy looking after everyone else,' she says.

'Don't assume you're overreacting,' she says. 'If something keeps bothering you or doesn't feel normal, get it checked. Listening to your body could make all the difference.'

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can body odour be a sign of cancer?
    Yes, cancer cells can release compounds that change body odour.
  • What are VOCs in relation to cancer?
    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemical particles released by cancer cells that can be excreted through the skin, breath, urine, and stool.
  • What should you do if you notice unusual body odour?
    If you notice persistent unusual body odour, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation.
  • What are some other symptoms of breast cancer?
    Symptoms can include lumps, fatigue, sugar cravings, bloating, and unexplained bruising.
  • Why is early detection of breast cancer important?
    Early detection can lead to more effective treatment and a better prognosis.
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