The bad news: you’re closing in on 80, and your body’s starting to get a bit cranky. The good news: a recent Harvard University study indicates that your risk for most cancers will start dropping dramatically.
Not only does your likelihood of getting cancers of all types decrease after 80, but also those cancers that do occur are likely to be less virulent, or fast-growing and life-threatening.
Four Potential Reasons for Cancer Rate Drop-Off
Although at this point no solid data exists to explain why this drop-off in cancer rates happens, the study’s author, Dr. Richard Wilson, suggests that possible reasons might include:
• Changes in diet or daily eating habits that result in eating fewer cancer-producing foods
• Weight loss, brought about by eating less (aging taste buds lose the ability to savor food as well as younger ones do)
• Fewer people drinking in excess or smoking as they get older
• Through retirement, less likelihood of being exposed to cancer-causing agents in the workplace
Steps to Take Now
The bottom line: if you’ve had the good fortune and good genes to hit 80, your likelihood of getting cancer is much lower than it had been earlier. And if you’re still hoping to make that magic number cancer-free, your best bet is to:
• avoid cancer-causing foods (check with your doctor for the most current information)
• maintain a steady, healthy weight
• quit smoking and drink moderately
• avoid working around toxic or cancer-producing materials such as asbestos, commercial cleaners, pesticides, etc.
The results of the Harvard University study, headed by Richard Wilson, were presented at the 2008 American Association for Cancer Research conference April 12-16, 2008.
