Elder Care in Cary NC: Common Cancers in the Elderly

Cancer is something that most family caregivers dread when caring for their elderly parents. Seniors are at far higher risk of developing cancer than younger people, with incidence rates 10 to 11 times higher than those of younger adults, and accounting for more than 70 percent of all cancer deaths throughout the United States each year. Understanding this disease can make it easier for you to give your loved one the care that they need both to help reduce their risk of suffering any form of cancer, and to give them the care that they need to manage it if it does develop.

September 8 is Stand Up to Cancer Day.

This is the ideal opportunity for you to learn more about cancer and its potential impact on your aging parent. This starts with knowing the types of cancers that are most common among aging adults. While cancer itself is more common among seniors, there are some forms of cancers that are particularly prevalent in this age group.

Some of the cancers that are common among elderly adults include:

Prostate cancer
Testicular cancer
Colon cancer
Lung cancer
Breast cancer

It is important to note that among all forms of cancer, elderly men are approximately 7 times more likely than younger men to develop cancer. Older women are also more likely to experience cancer, though the increase in incidence is not as drastic. Do not hesitate to talk to your aging parent’s doctor about the specific risk that your aging parent is facing and which cancers might be more likely for them than others. This can help you to modify your care routine to address this risk and support a healthier lifestyle as they age in place.

If you have been consider ways that you can enhance your aging parent’s life and help them to live a lifestyle that is more fulfilling, engaged, and independent throughout their later years, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting elder care for them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a schedule that is right not just for their needs, but also for the care that you are able to give them. This means that they can stay as healthy, safe, comfortable, and happy as possible as they age in place, and you can feel confident that they are getting everything that they need both when you are able to be with them and when you are not.