Cancer in Elderly People - Essay Example

CANCER IS THE DISEASE OF THE OLD of School November 5, 2008 Introduction Cancer is a deadly disease that has deva d so manylives. It is a disease mostly associated with the older men and women. It is a non-local disease which may be a bump, lump, tumor, or blood dyscrasia that could result from virus invasion or carcinogen in the body (Centurionministry.com). It is any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer can spread throughout your body. (Mayoclinic.com, 2006) The human body is composed of organs that are made up of cells that divide and multiply as the body requires. When cells continue to multiply which the body do not need, it results to a mass, or growth which is called tumor that could either be malignant or benign. The malignant tumor is the one that is cancerous while the malignant tumor is non-cancerous. (Fayed, 2006). Several changes occur in the body before a cancer develops Mayoclinic.com enumerates such changes as follows: (1) an initiator to cause a genetic mutation sometimes caused by forces within the body, such as hormones, viruses and chronic inflammation; or forces outside of the body, such as ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens) in the environment; (2) a promoter to cause rapid cell growth which could lead to a tumor. The promoters could be inherited, could come from inside or outside the body; and (3) a progressor to cause cancer to become aggressive and spread. There are many facts about cancer. Fayed in an article enumerated the facts that: (1) one in three people will develop cancer; (2) one in four people will die of cancer; (3) in 2005, about 1.4 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed; (4) more than 1500 Americans died each day of cancer this year; (5) over 1,000,000 cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year; (6) cancer is the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 85. Considering such facts, it is important therefore to have a comprehensive understanding of what the disease is all about, and to find out the extent of damage it can cause to a person in order to be enlightened on what it should be done to help in the prevention and possible treatment of the disease. This paper then shall investigate on cancer, its types, its risk factors and causes, and its treatment. Specifically it aims to enlighten the general public why it is considered a disease of the old. Before discussing the several factors that causes cancers it is imperative to be cleared on some important information that confused many people about cancer. The US National Health Institute thinks that it is important for all to keep in their mind the following; Not everything causes cancer. Cancer is not caused by an injury, such as a bump or bruise. Cancer is not contagious. Although being infected with certain viruses or bacteria may increase the risk of some types of cancer, no one can "catch" cancer from another person. Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will get cancer. Most people who have risk factors never develop cancer. Some people are more sensitive than others to the known risk factors. As to the risks factors of cancer the MedicineNet.com presented the following: (1) growing older (2) tobacco, (3) sunlight; (4) ionization radiation; (5) certain chemicals and other substances; (6) some viruses or bacteria, (7) family history of cancer; (8), alcohol, (9) poor diet, (10) lack of physical activity; or (11) overweight. It is most likely that a person who is aging and growing older has higher risk of cancer. In a study about yeast, scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found out that aging is a potent carcinogen. Gottschilling (as cited by TodaySeniorNetwork, 2003) states: While yeasts don't get cancer, they do have one of the major hallmarks of malignancy, which is genetic instability, we found a similar thing in yeast that has been seen in humans: genetic instability shoots up dramatically in the middle to late stage of life. In relation with this the center presented that nearly 80 percent of cancers are diagnosed after age 55. It also presented the fact that after reaching late-middle age, men face a 50 percent chance of developing cancer and women have a 35 percent chance. Gottschilling stated that up to now there is not enough justification why cancer surfaces in the later stage of life. However, they have learned in their study that aging mother cells are protected from age-induced genetic instability and that if cancer is an inherent consequence of aging, there are ways of interventions that may prevent the disease. Among the suggested lifestyle interventions are: (1) eating right; (2) not smoking; (3) getting enough physical activity. While many researchers points to the fact that aging and growing older affect risks and outcomes of cancer, there are also those who claim that aging has an advantage as it has an anti cancer effect. In a study on Dorian Gray cancer, for instance, Harder (2006) revealed a deep link between cancer and aging. He said that cancer depends on over-enthusiastic cell replication, whereas replication typically dwindles during aging. He said that the study showed that growing old is the flip side offending off cancer. In another article Janzen (as cited in Harder, 2006) stated: "Aging itself may be part of the body's anticancer machinery," On the other hand, Cantone said that age-related decrease in methylation may increase the risk of mutational events potentially leading to cancer," ( as cited in Goldberg, 2008). While Alta Bates Summit Medical Center stressed that the most important risk factor for cancer is growing older and that most cancers occur in people over the age of 65. However, this does not mean that that only older people get cancer. As to other risks of cancer, Martin (2005) stated that most cases of lung cancer death, close to 90% in men, and 80% in women are caused by cigarette smoking. Smoking may also result to cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidney and pancreas, and acute myeloid leukemia. Over exposure to sunlight may cause skin cancer. However, in an article on Cancer and Sunlight, Lyndon (2002) revealed that "insufficient exposure to ultraviolet radiation may be an important risk factor for cancer in western Europe and North America" This was based on an experiment that showed inverse correlation mostly in reproductive and digestive cancers. The strongest inverse correlation is breast, colon, and ovarian cancer. Accordingly other cancers affected by sunlight include tumors of the bladder, uterus, esophagus, rectum, and stomach. Studies on people exposed to radiation ionization have also shown risks of cancer which includes leukemia, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer. Studies conducted in Princeton University found out that it takes 10 to 15 years before cancer may appear in radiation-induced cancers. As to chemicals that may cause cancers Oxymega.com exposed that there are ingredients in cosmetics ad personal care that affect cancer. It enumerated products such as after-shave, air freshener, baby powder, cologne, creams, deodorants, dishwashing liquid soaps, disinfectant spray, dryer sheets, fabric softener, hair coloring products, hairspray, laundry detergents, lipstick, makeup, mouthwash, nail color and remover, shampoo, shaving cream, soaps, softeners, sunscreen, toothpaste, or anything that contains artificial fragrance may contain cancer causing chemical agents. Accordingly, all of which is directly absorbed through the skin and then into the blood. Bacteria and virus are not much taken to cause cancer as cancer is not contagious. But with the advance of medicine it was soon found out that they are indeed cancer causative. This was stressed by Cantwell (2003) who did a review of different studies on TB and papilloma: "Certain wart "papilloma" viruses can be spread sexually and result in cervical cancer. If further infectious agents, like cancer microbes, are found in cancerous diseases, we may have to reevaluate the contagiosity of cancer". While alcohol is considered as the second leading cause of cancer as studies reported that consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally related to cancers of the mouth pharynx larynx and esophagus; overweight has also been found out to have causal effect of cancer. This was concluded by a study made by the American Cancer Society. In an article the effect of overweight on the body mass: Body fat increases the amount of estrogen in the blood, which stimulates growth of cancers of the female reproductive system and many breast cancers. It increases the amount of insulin in the blood which also stimulates cell growth. It increases the risk of acid reflux which is related to esophageal cancer. (Burngardner, 2005). Hormones, imbalance diet, less physical activity are also among the risk factors of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, or blood clots. It is important to be aware of the different risk factors in order to prevent cancer. Fayed (2007) suggested 10 ways to prevent the risk: (1) to a void smoking, whether it be actual smoking or secondhand smoke; (2) to practice sun safety and recognize when skin changes occur; (3) to eat your fruits and vegetables; (4) to be careful with the meats to eat especially smoked or cured foods; (5) to limit your alcohol intake; (6) to take exercise; (7) to know your personal and family history of cancer; (8) to know what chemicals you are being exposed to in your work environment; (9) to practice safe sex; and (10) to be sure to keep up on screening tests like the Pap, mammograms, and DREs. Cancer is a deadly disease but studies also indicated that cancer care improved dramatically in the last years. The older men and women may be prone to cancer but with the improvements of quality care, the longevity of cancer patients will also be improved. The society must just need to be aware and be conscious of the risks and outcomes so that cancer will no longer be a leading cause of death. As Radford (2003) stated: "The future is about the patient as an active, empowered consumer, choosing where they go and what level of care they want" (Radford, 2003). References: Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. (2008). Cancer risk factors. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.altabatessummit.org/clinical/cancerriskfactors.html Burngardner, W. (20 July 2005). Cancer risk increased by overweight. About.com Health and Disease Conditions. Retrieved November 5, 2008 from http://walking.about.com/cs/howtoloseweight/a/aafatcancer.htm Cantwell, A. (2003). Bacteria: The ultimate cure of cancer. New Dawn vol 7. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.whale.to/a/cantwell2.html Centurion.com. (2001). Cancer. Centurion Ministry. Retrieved November 5, 2008 from http://www.centurion ministry.org/ cancer/defined.htm Fayed, L. (27 September 2006). Understanding the development of cancer. About.com Health's Disease and Condition. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://cancer.about.com /od/newlydiagnosed/a/whatcancer.htm Fayed, L. (21 June 2007). 10 ways to prevent cancer. About.com Health's Disease and Condition. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://cancer.about.com/od/ causes/tp/topreventcancer.htm Goldberg, S. V. (16 April 2008). Aging: Growing older affects cancer risks ad outcomes. American Association for Cancer Research. Retrieved, November 2008 from http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/aafc-ahg040808.php Harder, Ben. (4 November 2006). The cancer of Dorian Gray: is growing old an inescapable cost of averting malignancy Science News. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_19_170/ai_n26709248/pg_3tag=artBody;col1 Lyndon, O. D. (2002). Sunlight and cancer. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/sunlightcancer.html Martin, T. (10 August 2005). Smoking and Cancer. About.com Health and Disease Conditions. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccostatistics/ a/cancerstats.htm Mayoclinic.com (12 May 2006). Cancer basics: What is cancer and what causes cancer CNN.com. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/CA/00003.html Medicinenet.com. (2008). Cancer, causes, risk factors, stability, facts, and information. MedicineNet.com. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.medicinenet.com/cancer_causes/article.htm Oxymega.com. (2008). Cancer causing chemicals. Applied Ozone Systems. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.oxymega.com/cancer.html Princeton University. (2007). Biological effects of ionization radiation. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/osradtraining/biologicaleffects/page.htm Radford, Tim. (13 September 2003). Britons growing old gracefully. The Guardian. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/sep/13/science.health TodaysSeniorNetwork. ( 25 September 2003). Cancer and Aging: New findings in yeast may help reveal why growing older is the greatest carcinogen in humans. TodaysSenioNetwork.com. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://todaysseniorsnetwork.com/Aging%20and%20Cancer.htm U.S. National Institute of Health. (4 October 2006). What do you need to know about cancer: an overview. National Health Institute. Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/overview/page4 Webwire. (18 April 2008). Aging: How growing older affects cancer risks and outcomes Retrieved, November 5, 2008 from http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp aId=63606 Read More