When we hear the word 'cancer', we all get a little scared, don't we? Most of the time, we think of it as a serious disease that only affects the elderly. What is the real connection between age and cancer? How does aging affect the risk of cancer ? Today, let's talk about it in simple terms to clear up any questions you may have about this.
Why does the risk of cancer increase with age?
Yes, the risk of developing cancer increases with age. Simply put, the biggest risk factor for developing cancer is aging . Nine out of 10 newly diagnosed cancer patients are over 45 years old. And 28% of new cancer cases are over 74 years old.
Now you may be wondering, “Why does this happen?” Although researchers can’t find a single definitive reason for this, there are a few main ideas.
1. Changes in cells over time: Imagine, our body is made up of billions of cells. These cells are constantly dividing and renewing themselves. As the years go by, the chances of these cell division errors (mutations) occurring are higher. Cells that have made such errors are the ones that grow out of control and become cancerous. So, getting older means that there is more time for these errors to occur.
2. Exposure to risks: We are exposed to many things throughout our lives. For example, we are exposed to sunlight (especially ultraviolet rays ), cigarette smoke, and various chemicals . Some of these can be cancer -causing agents. As we age, we are exposed to more of these carcinogens.
So, the risk of cancer often increases with age due to a combination of both factors: changes in cells over time and exposure to risk factors over time.
How cancer is diagnosed in different age groups
Cancer can develop at any age. It can even affect a small child. However, it is most common in middle-aged and older people. The median age at which cancer is diagnosed is generally considered to be 66 years. This means that half of all newly diagnosed cancer patients are diagnosed before the age of 66, and the other half are diagnosed after that.
You can get a good idea about this from the table below.
| Age Group | All cancer detection rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Under 20 years old | 1% |
| 20-34 years old | 3% |
| 35-44 years old | 5% |
| 45-54 years old | 11% |
| 55-64 years old | 24% |
| 65-74 years old | 30% |
| 75-84 years | 19% |
| 85 years and older | 8% |
Looking at this table, you can clearly see how much the rate of cancer detection increases after the age of 55.
Do the most common types of cancer differ by age?
Yes, absolutely. The relationship between age and cancer also varies by type of cancer.
Most common cancers in children and young adults
The most common types of cancer among children under 14 years of age are leukemia, lymphoma, and brain or central nervous system cancers . More than a quarter of those diagnosed with bone cancer are under 20 years of age.
Most common cancer among adults under 50 years of age
- Leukemia and Lymphoma
- Thyroid Cancer
- Skin cancer ( Melanoma )
- Breast Cancer
- Germ Cell Tumors
Most common cancer among adults over 50 years old
- Breast Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Colon and Colorectal Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Skin cancer (Melanoma)
Average age at diagnosis of various types of cancer
Some cancers, such as lung, pancreatic, or ovarian cancer, don't show symptoms until the disease is quite advanced. So by the time a doctor detects them, the cancer may have been growing in the body for some time. But cancers like breast, skin, or prostate cancer can often be detected early.
Below is the average age of patients at diagnosis for various types of cancer.
| Cancer Type | Mean age of diagnosis |
|---|---|
| Breast | 62 years old |
| Lung | 71 years old |
| Prostate | 66 years |
| Pancreas | 70 years |
| Colon | 67 years |
| Skin (Melanoma) | 65 years old |
| Bladder | 73 years |
| Cervix | 50 years |
| Ovary | 63 years old |
What is your cancer risk and how to reduce it?
Age is only one factor that can affect your risk of developing cancer. There are other things we can't change. For example, we can't control things like whether someone in your family has had cancer ( heredity ), your race, or your gender .
But the good news is that there are many things we can control . By following these habits, you can significantly reduce your risk of cancer.
- Eat a healthy diet. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and greens.
- Avoid smoking completely and minimize your exposure to smoking areas.
- Protect yourself from excessive sunlight. Use an umbrella and a hat when going out in the sun.
- Be physically active. Do simple exercise like walking for at least 30 minutes a day.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Taking care of these things will go a long way in helping you live a healthy, well-rounded life. If you want to know if you are at particular risk based on your age or family history, it's best to talk to your doctor.
Take-Home Message
- Aging is the main risk factor for developing cancer. This risk increases rapidly after the age of 55.
- Cancer can develop at any age. The types of cancer most common among children and young adults are different from the types of cancer most common among adults.
- Although there are risk factors we cannot change, such as age and genetics, there are many things we can control.
- A healthy diet, exercise, avoiding smoking, and sun protection can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
- See your doctor to learn about your personal risk and discuss any necessary tests.
Cancer, Age and Cancer, Cancer Risk, Types of Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Sri Lanka Health, Healthy Living
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