Cancer Facts for People Over 50

Last Updated: July 1, 2003

Cancer strikes people of all ages, but you are more likely to get cancer as you get older, even if no one in your family has had it. The good news is that the chances of surviving cancer are better today than ever before.

Cancer is a disease in which cells become abnormal and keep dividing and forming more cells without order or control. If left untreated, cancer cells can damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells also can break away and spread to other parts of the body. Thus, early treatment means better outcomes.

What regular tests should I have?
Most cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages don’t cause any symptoms or pain. That is why it’s important to have regular tests to check for cancer long before you might notice anything wrong.

Checking for cancer in a person who does not have any symptoms is called screening. Screening may involve a physical exam, lab tests, or procedures to look at internal organs.

Medicare now covers a number of screening tests for cancer. For details, check with the Medicare toll-free help line at 1-800-633-4227.

If you are 50 or older, the following are some of the cancer screening tests that you and your doctor should consider:

Mammogram. A woman’s risk of breast cancer increases with age; about 80% of breast cancers occur in women over age 50. A mammogram is a special X-ray of the breast that often can find cancers that are too small for a woman or her doctor to feel. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends that women in their 40s or older have a screening mammogram on a regular basis, every one to two years.

Clinical Breast Exam. During a clinical breast exam, the doctor or other health care professional checks the breasts and underarms for lumps or other changes that could be a sign of breast cancer.

Fecal Occult Blood Test. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S. The risk of developing colorectal cancer rises after age 50. It is common in both men and women. Studies show that a fecal occult blood test every one or two years in people between the ages of 50 and 80 decreases the number of deaths due to colorectal cancer. For this test, stool samples are applied to special cards, which are examined in a lab for occult (hidden) blood.

Sigmoidoscopy. A doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a light (sigmoidoscope) to look inside the colon and rectum for growths or abnormal areas. Fewer people may die of colorectal cancer if they have regular screening by sigmoidoscopy after age 50.

Pap Test. The risk of cancer of the cervix (the lower, narrow part of the uterus or womb) increases with age. Most invasive cancers of the cervix can be prevented if women have Pap tests and pelvic exams regularly. Older women should continue to have regular Pap tests and pelvic exams. The doctor uses a wooden scraper or a small brush to collect a sample of cells from the cervix and upper vagina. The cells are sent to a lab to check for abnormalities.

Pelvic Exam. In a pelvic exam, the doctor checks the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum for any changes in their shape or size. During a pelvic exam, an instrument called a speculum is used to widen the vagina so that the upper part of the vagina and the cervix can be seen.

Digital Rectal Exam. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men – especially older men. More than 80% of prostate cancers occur in men 65 and older. Research is being done to find the most reliable screening test for prostate cancer. Scientists are studying the value of digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in reducing the number of deaths caused by prostate cancer. For a digital rectal exam, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate gland for bumps or abnormal areas.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). This test measures the amount of PSA in the bloodstream. Higher-than-average amounts of PSA may indicate the presence of prostate cancer cells. However, PSA levels also may be high in men who have noncancerous prostate conditions. Scientists are studying ways to improve the validity of the PSA test.

Skin Exam. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Routine examination of the skin increases the chance of finding skin cancer early.

A positive result on any of these tests doesn’t mean that you have cancer. You may need more tests. A biopsy is the only sure way to know whether the problem is cancer. In this test, a sample of tissue is removed from the abnormal area and examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Source: National Institute on Aging

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