Common Cancers among the Elderly – (Part 1)
July 2nd, 2010
“When I was young and can eat anything, I didn’t have the money for it. Now that I am old and can afford what I want, my health forbids it,” is a popular line among baby boomers. One of life’s paradoxes is that when, at the peak of their lives, the aging and the elderly are supposed to enjoy unbridled freedom, physical infirmities fetter them to the ground, or, tragically for some, in their beds.
My previous posts were about the common diseases of those in the “senior citizen” bracket. Foremost among them is cancer. I am always hounded by a fear of it. And the only way we conquer our fears is to face it. So let’s face Cancer.
Common cancers among the aging and the elderly:
1. Breast cancer (Breast Cancer Organization):
This refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. It usually begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, it can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast
The incidence of breast cancer in the U.S. is 1 in 8 (about 13%) and besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. Besides lung cancer, breast cancer causes more deaths among U.S. women than any other forms of cancer
About 90% of breast cancers are not heredity-related but due to genetic abnormalities resulting to aging process and life in general.
2. Cervical cancer (National Cancer Institute):
A cancer that forms in the tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and the vagina). Cervical cancer is caused by several types of a virus called “human papillomaviruses (HPV).” HPV is spread by sexual contact and though most women’s bodies can fight it off, sometimes the virus leads to cancer.
Though it takes several years for normal cells in the cervix to turn into cancer but increased risk is found among women who smoke, have many children, use birth control pills for a long time or have HIV infection.
In 2009, it was estimated that new cases of cervical cancer in the U.S. were 11,270 with 4,070 deaths.
By having regular PAP tests and pelvic exams, changing cells can be observed and treated before they turn into cancer. A vaccine can be administered to girls and young women as protection against the four types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers.
