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5 Cancers You're More Prone to Get as You Age

Going for screenings and taking preventative steps are crucial

By Ellen Breslau and Grandparents.com

(This article previously appeared on Grandparents.com.)

We all wonder about whether we're going to get cancer, but does our risk really increase as we age? The simple answer is: yes.

According to the American Cancer Society, 78 percent of all cancer diagnoses are in people 55 or older; one in two men, and one in three women are at risk of getting cancer in their lifetime.

"As you get older, it's a lifetime accumulation of risk factors," says Dr. William Dale, director of SOCARE, the geriatric oncology clinic at the University of Chicago. "It's a combination of environmental risks such as smoking and eating the wrong things combined with genetic risks like having a family history of a certain cancer. Essentially the longer you live, the more chance there is of getting cancer."

However, the good news is that the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers diagnosed in 2004 to 2010 was 68 percent, up from 49 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. And more than ever, screenings and prevention are key.

The five cancers you should pay close attention to if you are a boomer or older:

1. Skin Cancer

"The most common cancers that we see in people as they age are sun-related skin cancers," says Dr. Cary Presant, a medical oncologist at City of Hope hospital in California and author of Surviving American Medicine. However, skin cancers are treated a little differently in terms of cancer statistics because they range in seriousness.

"Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, but statistically, surprisingly few people get melanoma," Dale says. "Other skin cancers, such as basal cell and squamous, are more prevalent, but they are often benign."

However, you don't want to mess around with skin cancer. Melanoma has the potential to kill you.

What you can do: "Make certain you are friendly with your dermatologist and get your whole body checked regularly," Presant says. "Often, when you see your primary care physician, they don't do a detailed look at all parts of your body. You need a total skin exam, including your scalp, nails, genital area and in between your toes."

2. Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in older women, and for all women (with the exception of skin cancer), with over 230,000 women being diagnosed with it this year.

"What we do know is that breast cancer in younger women is often more dangerous," Presant says. "In older women, breast cancer tends to be less aggressive."

But that's not a reason to be less vigilant about getting a mammogram. In terms of why women get breast cancer, doctors are not certain, but, Presant says, "there seems to be a cumulative effect in the reduction of the body's immune defenses against cancers, and hormonal changes also play a part."

Studies also show that not having children can increase breast cancer risk, as can a long menstrual history where you got your period early and/or had it end later in life.

What you can do: Get regular mammograms at least until age 75, Presant says. "Screening finds many early-stage precancerous lesions that could develop into invasive cancers if left unchecked." He also suggests talking to your doctor about your vitamin D levels. Notes Presant: "Some studies show that vitamin D has a preventative effect on breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, so it's worth talking to your doctor."

And if you find a lump or bump, call your doctor to have it checked immediately. Don't just let it go.

3. Prostate Cancer

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Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men, after skin cancer. About 56 percent of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men 65 years and older, and 97 percent occur in men 50 and older, according to the American Cancer Society. About one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

As men age, the prostate gets bigger and there are hormonal changes which can increase cancer risk, Presant says. "Early prostate cancers can often be watched," he adds. "Many don't progress, but some are more serious and need to be treated."

What you can do: Have a discussion with your doctor at age 50 about whether to get screened. "If you have difficulty urinating, get up often at night to urinate or find blood in your urine, talk to your doctor immediately. Also talk to your doctor about taking vitamin D and a baby aspirin, both of which have been shown to help prevent prostate cancer," Presant says.

4. Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men and women (excluding skin cancer), and causes more deaths than any other cancer. About two out of three people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 and older. Lung cancer stems from smoking or your lungs being exposed to secondhand smoke or radon, Dale says.

What you can do: Screening is the most effective way of reducing your chance of dying from lung cancer, but screening is generally only recommended for people who have a history of smoking or who have been exposed to a lot of secondhand smoke.

"The screening is a simple CT scan of the lungs that can see little nodules in your lungs and raise a red flag," Presant says. Symptoms you should get checked include a persistent cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.

5. Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in men and women. In 2011, 90 percent of cases were diagnosed in people 50 and older. Early colorectal cancer has few warning signs, which is why screening and prevention are so important.

If caught early, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90 percent.

What you can do: Get a colonoscopy regularly, starting at age 50. "A colonoscopy will check for polyps, which can be removed before they can become harmful," Present says. "Also, taking a baby aspirin a day has been shown to help prevent polyps."

Other factors can contribute to your risk. "A diet with a lot of red meat and fat, and not enough roughage, can factor in," he says. Always report symptoms to your doctor related to your bowels, including blood in your stool, frequent constipation and pains in your abdomen that don't go away.

Ellen Breslau Read More
By Grandparents.com

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