How Common Is Cancer Over 70?
According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 2025 Early Detection Survey, a whopping 73% of Americans are worried that they might be diagnosed with cancer. This fear is so widespread that there’s even a name for it: carcinophobia. Sadly, a fear of cancer might not exactly be unfounded…especially in older adults. In fact, more than nine out of ten cancers are diagnosed in people aged 45 and older (per WebMD). Worse still, older adults over the age of 75 make up nearly 28% of all new cancer cases! So, what does this mean for you? That a cancer diagnosis is inevitable, and chemotherapy is just around the corner? And what types of cancers, if any, are more common in older adults?
Why is cancer more common in older adults?
Clearly, the statistics don’t lie: cancer targets more older adults than younger ones. But why? The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute explains that the link between cancer and older adults might be a simple one. The longer you live, the more chances you have to be exposed to carcinogens, otherwise known as the substances that increase your risk of cancer. Your family history might also point to a future cancer diagnosis. According to the CDC, you’re more likely to develop uterine, breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers if someone (or multiple people) in your family received a diagnosis in the past. Our immune systems also tend to slow with age, making it harder for our bodies to fight off infections and correct cell defects (per MedlinePlus.gov). Cell defects (also known as mutations) can increase your risk of cancer.
What types of cancer are more common in older adults?
Did you know that blood cancers, like leukemia and lymphoma, are actually more common in younger adults? Conversely, that has to mean that certain types of cancer are more common in older adults, right? If you answered “yes” to that question, then you’re correct! Here are a few of the most common cancers found in older adults…and some of the signs and symptoms you should be watching out for!
Breast Cancer
According to WebMD, over 310,000 women in the US were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 alone. Symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- Pain in any area of the breast
- Bloody discharge
- New lump, or lumps, in the breast or underarm
- Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
- Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area
- Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
- Changes in the shape or size of the breast
Mammograms identify up to 87% of breast cancer cases every year, so make sure you schedule one annually!
Lung Cancer
Believe it or not, around 124,730 people die from lung cancer each year. Sadly, adults over the age of 60 account for up to 80% of all lung cancer cases in the United States. Smoking, of course, is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer. But if you’re a non-smoker, you might also be at risk, especially if you grew up around smokers and inhaled a lot of secondhand smoke. Per Cancer.org, the most common lung cancer symptoms are:
- A cough that doesn’t go away or worsens
- Weight loss
- Exhaustion or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Recurring infection or pneumonia
- Hoarseness
- Persistent chest pain
- New onset of wheezing
- Coughing up blood
Prostate Cancer
According to statistics from Cancer.org, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Even worse, 6 out of 10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. You should get in touch with your doctor immediately if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn’t go away
- Blood in semen or urine
- Painful, burning sensation when urinating
- Pain when ejaculating
- Trouble emptying the bladder completely
- Weak urination with an interrupted flow
- Urinating often, particularly at night
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer, not only in the United States but across the globe. Worse still, the World Health Organization reports that it’s the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, trailing only behind lung cancer. Though colorectal cancer sometimes doesn’t have any symptoms in the early stages, some symptoms you should look out for include:
- A change in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bloody stool
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Aches, pain, or cramps
- Feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer. Two words that can feel like a death sentence…and tragically might turn into one. The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research shares that pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of only 13%. Like colorectal cancer, it often doesn’t have any symptoms in the early stages. But some symptoms you need to keep an eye out for may include:
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Dark-colored urine
- Jaundice
- Floating or light-colored stools
- Itching
- Pain and swelling in an arm or leg, which might be caused by a blood clot
- Weakness
- Tiredness
How can I prevent cancer?
Based on everything that we wrote above, you might be wondering: Is cancer inevitable? Of course not! In fact, according to research from the American Cancer Society, roughly half of cancer deaths are preventable. Better yet, with a few simple lifestyle tweaks, you can reduce your risk of getting cancer in the first place! Here are a few things you can do today that might lead to a cancer-free tomorrow.
1. Quit smoking.
Have you ever seen those signs that say, “Smoking kills”? Well, they aren’t exaggerating. Tobacco kills up to 7 million people a year (per the World Health Organization). To put it into perspective, that’s roughly the equivalent of the population of the entire state of Indiana! If you want to drastically lower your risk of cancer, then put down the cigarettes. Better yet, throw them into the trash. You could join a support group, either in person or online, for a little extra accountability. Make sure to ask your friends and family to keep you accountable, too! For more tips on quitting smoking, check out THIS article.
2. Lose weight.
Did you know that nearly 3 out of 4 adults in the United States are considered obese? Obesity isn’t just hard on your heart and your joints. Being overweight can also raise your risk of getting over 13 types of cancers (per the CDC). So, if you’re overweight, do something about it! Join a gym and start a food diary so you can track how much you’re eating every day. Make it a point to get up off the couch and move around periodically. Swap your favorite soda for some flavored water. Once you reach a healthy weight range, make sure you maintain it! Don’t let old habits die hard.
3. Eat a healthy diet.
It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that your diet and health go hand in hand. So, if you want to really reduce your risk of cancer, clean up your diet! The American Cancer Society recommends eating whole grains, lots of fruits and veggies, and other whole foods, meaning foods that aren’t processed. Basically, try to avoid fast food and anything that looks like it was manufactured in a factory. While you can enjoy pretty much any food in moderation, ultra-processed foods are usually packed with calories, sugar, fat, and starch. So, choose more whole foods!
4. Exercise!
Never underestimate the power of exercise! According to the CDC, being physically active lowers your risk of developing eight different types of cancers, including breast, colon, and lung cancer! Ideally, you should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, or around 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Per The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, you should do some balance training alongside a bit of strength training and aerobic exercises, like (brisk) walking and swimming.
5. Use sunscreen.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and it’s really not too hard to see why. How many of us turned down a coat of sunscreen in the name of getting the perfect tan? Or hit the tanning bed at least once a week before we learned just how terrible they are for us? While you can’t reverse the damage all the sunburns of summer vacations past did to your skin, you can start using sunscreen every day. Start by choosing a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and applying it liberally. Not just a pea-sized amount that you dab on your face and arms, but enough to cover every inch of exposed skin. You should also reapply it every two hours! (Hint: spray sunscreen can come in handy for amusement parks and pool days!) Also, hats and sunglasses are your friends.
6. Cut back on alcohol.
You might have a glass of red wine every now and then for the antioxidants, like Stanley Hudson from The Office. But research has proven that even small amounts of alcohol can increase your cancer risk. Yes, that includes red wine! If you have to drink, do it in moderation. That means that ladies should limit themselves to only one glass per day, while gentlemen should stick to one to two. However, as Cancer Research UK notes, abstaining from alcohol altogether will reduce your risk of at least seven types of cancer, so keep that in mind the next time you reach for a wine glass!
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Originally published July 03, 2025
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