Older people today are generally both mentally and physically fitter than previous generations, and many retired people enjoy a new lease of life. Being diagnosed with cancer at this time can therefore seem very unfair, as it could affect many aspects of your life and may interfere with your quality of life. However, it is important to remember that many people are cured and others manage to maintain a virtually normal life while living with their cancer.

Older people sometimes find that they are able to cope better with the diagnosis than younger people, as they have had more experience of coping with difficult times. This ability to cope, coupled with the better health people have these days, is very important in improving the quality of life for people who are cured of cancer, and in extending the length of life for people who cannot be cured.

Cancer and older people

Nowadays, people are living much longer than they used to. The longer we live, the longer our bodies are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals and environmental factors (such as sunlight) which increase the risk of abnormal cells developing.

As we age, our immune system also becomes less effective at identifying these abnormal cells and destroying them before they have a chance to develop into cancers. So, most types of cancer are more common in older people.

Some cancers, such as particular cancers of the prostate, stomach and breast may grow extremely slowly in older people.

As you get older you are more likely to suffer from a variety of aches and pains and other symptoms. It is easy to assume that new symptoms are just part of the ageing process and ignore them. However, any new symptoms should be discussed with your doctor, so that they can decide if the symptoms are a normal part of getting older or whether you need to have tests to find out what is wrong.

In particular, if you notice any of the symptoms listed below, let your doctor know, as they could be a sign of cancer.

• hoarseness of the voice that lasts more than three weeks
• a cough that lasts more than three weeks, or coughing up blood
• a lump that does not go away
• a sore that will not heal
• a change in the size, shape or colour of a mole, or any change in the skin
• blood in the bowel movements or urine
• bleeding from the vagina
• indigestion that does not go away or keeps coming back
• unexplained weight loss

It is important to remember that all these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer.

Some people with cancer are reluctant to have tests carried out at an early stage and do not go to their doctor until the cancer is large or has already spread. However, if cancer is found early, treatment is more likely to be sucessful.