For "Showtime of my Life – Stars Against Cancer" Jochen Schropp drops the covers on TV. In the interview he talks about this experience.
In the new VOX show "Showtime of my Life – Stars Against Cancer" (February 1st and 2nd, at 8:15 pm or via TVNOW) eight prominent men and women drop their covers to draw attention to cancer prevention . Presenter and actor Jochen Schropp (42) is one of the stars who pull out in the men's group on Tuesday. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the 42-year-old talks about this special experience.
What made you decide to take part in this show?
Jochen Schropp: I have a family history of cancer. My father and grandpa died of cancer. When I heard that there was going to be a show about it, I wanted to take part directly – I didn't even know that we had to take off our clothes. (laughs) I thought it was just an information show. But this is how the important message is combined with fun: If we can undress in front of an audience of millions, then you can do the same at the doctor's. In the end, you don't see anything. Backlighting is used so that the best piece cannot be seen on TV. At least that's what they promised us. In front of our invited family members and friends who were there, however, we were stark naked.
How did the death of your father and grandfather influence your life?
Schropp: I try to lead a happy, fulfilling life because it can be over very quickly. I think there are many people who are always waiting for something: when I retire or when I have achieved something in particular, I'll do it. I want to live every day as if it could be the last. Cancer is a difficult disease. You can lead a healthy life and then she'll get you. It's not as if my father's death made me think: I'll never eat fast food or drink alcohol again. But I try to live my life more consciously.
As part of the program, there were also preventive examinations – in your case, the prostate and testicles. How did you feel about the investigation?
Schropp: With a very happy feeling because I let the cancer screening run a little in the past few years. I went to two urologists in Berlin and never really felt picked up. Either I had the feeling that you were being laughed at as a young person or you felt uncomfortable when you came to a practice and there were only old and sick people sitting there. I was the first to do the exams on the show. However, the medical check-up took place in our dance hall. Then there are cameramen, sound engineers, editors and a doctor from the university clinic with the question: "Who would like to get their fingers stuck in their bum first?" Some of my colleagues did not find it intimate enough. But for me, prevention was the number one reason to take part.
How did you feel after the examination?
Schropp: I did not consider that the preventive measures can also lead to unpleasant results. The doctor told me away from the camera that I had calcium deposits in my testicles. This is not unusual, but it can be a precursor to testicular cancer. I'm at an age where I'm probably no longer prone to it, but he advised me to have a blood test. Accordingly, I had to wait another two days until I got an appointment with him in the hospital. The time until then was stressful. Mainly because we had dance training after this examination. I was standing pretty close to me.
Guido Maria Kretschmer and Joachim Llambi gave me great support and wrote me messages to find out how I was feeling. The blood test then showed no signs of cancer cells or a tumor. Nevertheless, it was a wake-up and a lesson for me: Go to preventive care!
In September you already posed naked for the German "Cosmopolitan". Were there differences for you between undressing for the shoot and for "Showtime of my Life – Stars against Cancer"?
Schropp: As an actor, I'm used to undressing for scenes and have no problem with nudity, but I'm not an exhibitionist either. I have been working with the "Cosmopolitan" for many years and I was totally honored when the request came. You just have to say: This is a photo that was taken in front of three people and can be retouched later. It's different than undressing in front of several people and cameras running. On the show, I don't have a handle on what the body looks like in motion. But that's not the point either. We all ate normally on the day of the performance. Nobody starved to look great in the evening. It was about having fun together and finally being able to show what we trained a lot for.
Were the other participants a support for you and vice versa?
Schropp: In any case, that was a very important process. On the one hand, Basti (Bastian Bielendorfer) made the greatest hero's journey for me because he was not at all at peace with his body. He said to me: "It's easy for you to talk, you have a great body!" I also have things about me that I don't like. For me this is labeled as whining at a high level. But I was bullied as a teenager because I was too thin and too feminine. Still, it's different from Bastian, who doesn't think he's beautiful. I tried to support him and said: You not only do something good because you encourage other people, but you also grow beyond yourself. On the other hand, the boys were very there for me when I was in the dark for two days, waiting for my blood test.
Participants also include people who have already been diagnosed with cancer themselves. Were you able to take something for yourself from these encounters?
Schropp: Yes, Uli (Ulrich Roth) was an amazing support for us. The former professional handball player was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the same time as his brother and both survived. Uli is a bon vivant. He enjoys life and loves it. On the one hand, he is a great role model because he defeated the disease. On the other hand, also because it has remained so incredibly positive. He is now the age my father was when he passed away. I had the feeling that he is exactly the dad that I unfortunately no longer have. He reminded me of him like crazy. That was great.
Why do you think that talking about cancer is often still a taboo subject?
Schropp: It's not a taboo subject for me. But I believe that even for someone my age in their early 40s, cancer is so far away. Even if you've seen him in the family. My father died 14 years ago. For me, the topic is therefore no longer so hot. You only become aware of it again and talk about it when a colleague of mine or the parents of a friend get cancer. But since it is a disease that cannot be assessed, it is important to go to preventive care. It doesn't matter whether you are or have been affected yourself or in your family, or whether you still feel totally invulnerable.
What effect do you hope the show will have?
Schropp: If we only get one person to go to preventive care who, in case of doubt, is diagnosed with cancer and can be cured because they go to the doctor in time, that is really worth a lot. It's just like my outing. Of course, I was afraid of what other people would think of it or how I was doing professionally. But I have received so many letters from young men and women who said things like: "Your open letter gave me so much strength. I also came out to my parents. I stand by myself more now." It always reminds me why I did it.