Elderly people and cancer: Get the facts

December 21, 2009 by admin 

As people age, their risk of getting cancer increases. As a family caregiver, look for these signs and symptoms of cancer in your elderly mother or father. The good news is that cancer death rates are going down. No matter what your age, the chances of surviving cancer are better today than ever before.

However, family members who are caring for elderly parents still worry about their loved one.

There are many kinds of cancer. All types begin when cells in a part of the body become abnormal and start making more cells. These extra cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor, or a growth. If the tumor gets bigger, it can hurt nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells also can break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Here are some signs and symptoms of cancer to look for.

 Just because your elderly parent has one or more of these symptoms does not mean they have cancer; it could be a multitude of other health problems that could be causing the symptoms. However, if your elderly parent is having any of these symptoms, it is important that they see a doctor as soon as possible.

to find out more about cancer in the elderly, and learn the tests and treatments that are used, read the full article: http://www.agingcare.com/ 133828

For more information on caring for an elderly parent, please visit www.agingcare.com.

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