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by unknownLiving longer may not be all that it is cracked up to be.
A report published in Cancer (May 2002), a publication of the American Cancer Society, used census information and current statistics on cancer incidence rates to project future cancer rates. The good news: cancer rates have declined steadily since 1973. The bad news: cancer rates for those over the age of 75 will almost triple in the next 50 years.
Cancer can strike anyone at any age, but cancer occurrence increases as people age. These days, people are living longer than ever before and seniors are making up an ever-increasing segment of the population. This large aging population is more likely to have to face the disease.
As research into new treatments continues, prevention and early detection remain the best defenses against most forms of cancer.
With regard to prevention, the American Cancer Society points to several pivotal issues: sun safety, tobacco use, nutrition and physical activity, and environmental/occupational hazards. For more information on each of these and the choices you can make, click here to visit the American Cancer Society, Cancer Prevention web site.
A number of tests are making it easier for doctors to diagnose and treat cancer in early stages. Early detection on the part of the patient can include learning to recognize symptoms, regular check-ups and self-exams. Visit the American Cancer Society home page for more information on early detection.
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