As you enter your later years, the risk of being diagnosed with cancer goes up. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and your risk of being diagnosed doubles between the ages of 50 and 60, and then again, from ages 60-80. Upon reaching age 65 (the median age of a cancer diagnosis) about 40% of your peers will be diagnosed with a new cancer diagnosis. And for those just approaching age 60 (the oldest of the Gen Xers), the news is even more concerning. According to the National Cancer Institute, as Gen Xers enter their later years, they face a higher risk of cancer than those in the Baby Boom generation. It’s not yet clear what’s driving that, though researchers suspect some combination of earlier cancer detection, a sedentary lifestyle, rising rates of obesity, and exposure to toxic pollutants. Millennials are also likely to face these higher risks as they approach their 60s.

Does that mean a cancer diagnosis is inevitable? Not at all. In fact, according to a new study from researchers at the American Cancer Society, about 40% of all cancer cases, and almost 50% of all cancer deaths in the US among adults over 30, are attributable to modifiable factors, i.e., factors that you may be able to influence or even control. As you can likely guess, the number 1 culprit is cigarette smoking, responsible for 3 out of 10 cancer deaths. But other factors are also important, including diet, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and even such infections as HPV or Hepatitis B or C. What types of cancer do these risk factors tend to accelerate? Lung cancer, female breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer are all associated with these modifiable risk factors. So before you despair, resolve to learn more and click here. As for genetics, only 5-10% of cancers are thought to be related to the genes we are born with. However, a new study published in Nature Genetics just identified a crucial “tumor protection” gene that is associated with thousands of cancer-causing genetic variants. Those who carry these variants are thought to be 10% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those who don’t have the variants. It’s anticipated that this discovery may facilitate new treatments to slow or even prevent the occurrence of cancer. For more on this study, click here.

If you think you’re at risk, or worried about a symptom that may indicate cancer, you would likely rush to your health care provider, right? In fact, that’s not how people often react. Several recent surveys, in the United States and England, report that the fear of cancer may be getting in the way of early and effective treatment. A recent survey by the University of Cambridge reports that, at least in England, cancer is the leading health concern among the public. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they were very worried or somewhat worried about being told they have cancer. Yet, instead of quickly acting to treat and perhaps even cure cancer once diagnosed, many allow fear and denial to delay prompt treatment. For example, a study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society found that nearly ½ of the people who tested positive in a lung cancer screening program delayed returning for follow-up treatment. And another survey in England found that 40% of those who thought they had cancer symptoms would avoid going to the doctor rather than seek confirmation and care. Given that ⅔ of cancers can now be treated as chronic conditions or even cured, it seems these fears have not caught up with the reality of modern cancer care. For more on these dangerous cancer denials and delays, read here.

Finally, if you have gone through a cancer diagnosis and treatment, and are now on the other end, you may be interested to know of a new study just published in JACC: Cardiology that reports strong adherence to the Mediterranean Diet appears to lower the all-cause mortality risk in cancer survivors. For more on this study, sprinkle some olive oil on your salad and click here.