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Let’s be honest — cancer is the uninvited guest who overstays their welcome, and the older we get, the more likely they are to show up. Nearly 60% of new cancer cases hit after age 65. The usual culprits? Lung, breast, prostate, bladder, and colorectal cancers.
Why? Because our aging bodies carry baggage — past illnesses, a little more wear and tear, and a healthy fear of what “treatment” might mean. That’s why personalized care isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Treatment must fit you, not the other way around.
A Few (Slightly Grim) Facts
- 70% of bladder cancer cases are in men between 50 and 80.
- 80% of lung cancer diagnoses hit adults over 60.
- Pancreatic cancer? Mostly after 65.
- Prostate cancer loves men over 75.
- Women over 65 are 1.7 times more likely to get breast cancer than those 45–64.
As my mother liked to say, “You’ve got to die of something.” True — but wouldn’t it be nice to postpone that appointment? Only one thing kills more Americans than cancer: heart disease. Here’s the good news: The same habits that protect your heart also guard you from cancer and dementia.
The Magic Three (cue drum roll…)
- Keep your weight in check. Obesity fuels cancer.
- Eat smart. More plants, fewer processed foods.
- Move your body. Just 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.
AND, don’t smoke, and go easy on the booze.
Here’s the mind-blower — these same habits can delay or prevent dementia! So why are cancer and dementia still skyrocketing? One word: life. In 1990, the average life expectancy was 75.4 years. By 2025, it reached 79.6. We lost some ground during COVID and the opioid crisis, but the trend is clear — we’re lasting longer.
And what we carry with us matters: Genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Here’s the kicker — genes only explain about 20% of longevity. The other 80%? That’s on us: how we live, move, eat, and care for ourselves.
The solution: Exercise. Eat well. Don’t smoke. You don’t have to be perfect — just good most of the time. Do that, and you might live long enough to be death-defying.
About Frances Reaves
H. Frances Reaves, Esq. is an estate and Medicaid planning attorney in Miami, FL. She began her career as a litigator/lobbyist. After 15 years in Maryland politics, she moved back to Miami and began her practice, and founded Parent Your Parents, an Elder Advocacy Group. Her inspiration was her parents, whose battle with the ‘elder bureaucratic system’ made clear the pervasive discrimination against elders. Should you have any questions or comments, please contact her at hfrancesr@parentyourparents.
