Why do cancer risks increase as we age?

Of all the mysteries and mysteries about cancer, one fact remains constant in almost all types of diseases: the risk of developing cancer increases with age. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the average patient age at the time of cancer diagnosis is 66. “Old age is the single most important risk factor for developing cancer in general,” says the NCI website.

There are exceptions, of course. Half of all testicular cancer cases occur in men between the ages of 20 and 34. Some types of cancer are more common in children. Approximately 60 percent of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, for example, are under 20 years old, and the average patient age at diagnosis is 15. But patients under 20 years old account for 1 percent of all new cancer cases. and 0.3 percent of cancer deaths.

Age is associated with cancer

The relationship between age and cancer risk makes sense in some ways, says Dr. David Boyd, MD, board-certified and director of Wellness, Prevention, and Primary Care at our hospital near Phoenix. “As you get older, you tend to have more potential exposure and more unhealthy habits,” he says. “Some of these things are out of our control. There is exposure to toxins, exposure to the sun over time. But there are also smoking and poor diet, which are factors that we can eliminate to reduce our cancer risk.”

This exposure can cause cellular mutations that can bypass the immune system and turn into cancer. “We develop cancer cells throughout our lives, but when we are young, our immune system is very strong and can attack and kill those cells,” says Dr. Susie Kochar, an endocrinologist at our hospital near Phoenix. “As we age, our immune system weakens and may not target some of these cancer cells.”

The average age of patients at diagnosis of the 10 common cancers according to the National Cancer Institute:

Some researchers believe that other factors may contribute to increased rates of cancer with age. A 2012 University of Colorado study cites altered characteristics in human tissue as a major factor in increased risk. James DeGregory, a researcher at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, said in Science DailyArticle about the study. “And it’s this change, not the accumulation of cancer-causing mutations, that increases cancer rates as we age.” A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) points to DNA methylation, a process that can interfere with the activation of certain genes, as a possible cause of increased risk with age. When genes designed to suppress tumors are not turned on, this can promote cancer growth. DNA methylation can increase with age. “You can think of methylation as dust deposited on an unused switch, which then prevents the cell from activating certain genes,” NIH researcher Dr. Jack Taylor says in a press release. “If a cell can no longer activate important developmental programs, it may be easier for it to turn into a cancerous cell.”

However, cancer is not a fact. You can take steps to help reduce your risk, even in later years. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that “cancer does not have to be an inevitable consequence of aging.” Quit smoking. stay active. Exercise and watch your diet. Cut back on alcohol. Studies show that adopting healthy habits can reduce the risk of cancer by up to 40%. “We can’t stop getting older.” Dr. says. Cougar. “But there are lifestyle choices we can make. That’s the most important part.”