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A cancer diagnosis can change your whole world in a second. And unfortunately, it’s happening more often than ever. According to the American Cancer Society, 2024 marks the first year that over two million people will be diagnosed with cancer – that’s almost 5,500 people diagnosed each day.1 The majority of those diagnoses will occur among seniors.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the odds of developing cancer increase with age. The median age of a cancer diagnosis is 66 years, while the incidence of cancer tends to peak between the ages of 80 and 84. Some of the most common cancers among seniors aged 60 and older include cancers of the colon, lungs, prostate, and breast.2
Cancer occurs when the cells in the body change, or mutate, and begin to grow in a different way. As the cells grow out of control, the normal cells are crowded out by the cancerous cells. When this happens, your body can’t work the way it should.
A blood test and/or biopsy is usually the standard when it comes to a cancer diagnosis. Here’s what seniors and elderly adults need to know if a diagnosis occurs.
Take a Moment
Hearing “you have cancer” is an overwhelming moment. Even if you suspected you had cancer and the tests are simply a confirmation, the news can still be a blow.
You might go completely numb and act as if nothing happened. Or you might dissolve into tears and be unable to stop crying. For most people, the reaction is somewhere in between. You might feel shock, disbelief, or even denial. You might feel intense anger or deep sadness. Fear might park itself in your life and hang out for a while.
Remember that there is no right or wrong way to respond to a diagnosis like this. Feel what you need to feel. That might be a spectrum of different emotions, sometimes coming so fast and furious that it’s hard to pinpoint what you’re really feeling. That’s a normal part of the journey.
A Whirlwind of Tests
Even as you work to process the information, you will likely be referred to an oncologist for further testing and treatment. Those tests will certainly involve more in-depth lab work. You might also be sent for different types of imaging tests, such as x-rays, ultrasounds, and tests by CT, MRI, or PET scan.
If you didn’t previously have a biopsy, you might get one now. This is when the doctor takes a bit of the cancerous cells from the body and sends them for testing. This can help determine important information about the cancer, such as how far it has spread or any genetic information that can help in treatment.
Getting the Basic Information
Knowledge is power, and now is the time to ask your doctor for all the information. These questions are helpful:
· What sort of cancer is this? Some types of cancer are very slow moving while others need intense treatment right away. For instance, prostate cancer is such a slow-moving cancer that a man can live with it for decades without a need for treatment. But pancreatic cancer is a stealthy and fast-moving cancer that is often only detected at stage four, which requires immediate, in-depth treatment.
· What’s the stage? The doctor will assign a “stage” to your cancer. How the stage is determined depends upon the type of cancer and how quickly it is growing. Typically, the doctor assigns a stage between one and four, and some cancers also have a grade assigned to them. This guide from Mount Sinai gives you a solid overview of how cancer is staged.3
· Has the cancer metastasized? This happens when the cancer cells travel from one part of the body to another. For example, someone with lung cancer might be told it has metastasized if doctors find cancerous cells in the bones or other organs. This means the cancer is more widespread and may be harder to treat.
· What caused this? Sometimes a cancer diagnosis has a clear cause, such as exposure to certain chemicals or a genetic quirk. But in most cases, it’s not clear what causes a certain type of cancer. Though the odds of developing cancer increase with age and other risk factors, some are diagnosed at a very young age with no risk factors at all. Accepting that you might never know what sparked the mutation in your cells can be tough.
Then comes the biggest question of all: What comes next?
Next Steps for Treatment
The treatment options will depend upon a few factors, such as the type and stage of the cancer, your overall health and other medical conditions, and your personal choices. Your doctor will talk with you and present the options.
Getting a second opinion is often encouraged. This is a significant diagnosis and the treatment choices matter greatly. Your primary care doctor’s office can help set up a referral for a second opinion.
What is the goal for treatment? That’s an important question to ask as you dive into the options. Is the goal to cure the cancer? Or is the goal to control the growth and manage the problems caused by the cancer? Is the goal to simply make you more comfortable?
Depending upon the type of cancer and your treatment goals, treatment may include:
· Chemotherapy. This is a treatment of very strong drugs, often given through an IV infusion, tailored to what you need. Depending upon your situation, chemo might cure the cancer, slow its growth, relieve symptoms, or lower the risk of cancer coming back after initial treatments.
· Radiation. There are several different types of radiation, but they are all designed to destroy or damage cancer cells to prevent further growth.
· Immunotherapy. Also known as targeted therapy, these drugs work with the immune system to fight the cancer. These drugs target the cancer cells, using the body’s own proteins to change how the cells grow and move in the body.
· Surgery. If the cancer is contained in one area of the body, it could be removed through surgery. This is especially true of localized tumors.
Your doctor will present treatment options. It isn’t at all unusual to use two or more treatments at once. And your treatment might change over time; for instance, you might start out with surgery and then move on to chemo and radiation to fight the cancer.
No matter the treatment plan, having a button alarm right at your fingertips matters a great deal. Your physical response to treatment might vary widely, even from one treatment session to the next. It’s important to have a way to reach out for help if you feel sudden symptoms, such as dizziness or weakness. Using medical alert technology to stay safe can be wonderful peace of mind.
A Word on Palliative Care
Many people hear “palliative care” and immediately think the worst. But it’s important to remember that palliative care is not the same as hospice care. It is designed to alleviate symptoms and promote the highest quality of life while undergoing treatment.
Palliative care is part of the standard treatment for those with cancer, and it can be provided at any time. The goal of palliative care is to manage the symptoms you’re feeling, both from the cancer itself and from the treatment regimen.
How to Cope
For those with cancer, there are good days and bad days. Good coping mechanisms can help when those bad days come around. Here are some powerful ways to cope with a diagnosis in day-to-day life.
· Learn as much as you can. This includes the diagnosis, stage and grade, and the names of the drugs you’re taking and what each one does in the body. Invest in a binder and notebook to keep track of all the instructions, medications, treatment options, and lab work results.
· Find a way to express your feelings. This might include talking to a friend or family member, reaching out to clergy or a professional counselor, writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal, attending a support group, or finding an outlet through art or music.
· Eat well and exercise. Now is the time to nourish and strengthen your body. Follow any diet your doctor sets for you during treatment and exercise regularly. Always check with the doctor before making big changes in diet or exercise routines. And ask your doctor about vitamins, supplements, and even food and drinks to avoid while in treatment.
· Focus on what you can control. When it feels overwhelming, turn to the things you know you can control – this might include taking your medications on time, every time, staying hydrated, following the doctor’s instructions to the letter, or making the best food choices.
· Practice self-care. If ever there was a time to pamper yourself, it’s now. Get plenty of rest, eat good food, watch your favorite movies, have lunch with friends, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Whatever makes you happy, do it.
· Watch for depression. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns are quite common after a cancer diagnosis. Remember that your mental and emotional health can affect your physical health, so always let your medical team know how you are feeling.
· Choose peace of mind. With so many things happening, alleviating as many worries as possible becomes a priority. A medical alert necklace gives you the assurance that help is literally a single button press away.
Telling Others About Your Diagnosis
Tell your family and close friends as soon as you feel strong enough to do so. While it’s okay to keep it to yourself for a while as you sort through your emotions, you will need their support during the cancer journey. When you are ready, give them as much information as you can and tell them what treatment you will pursue.
They might go through the same emotions you did at the start. You might see them go through shock, disbelief, denial, and more. They might ask if you got a second opinion.
If you go through the cancer journey, your friends and family will be understandably worried about you. Ease their mind as much as you can by assuring them you are following the proper treatment regimen. Senior alert systems can also help with peace of mind. Being able to get help with the single push of a button can help your friends and family – and you – breathe a big sigh of relief.
