Why Cancer Is More Common With Age
Cancer is fundamentally a disease of accumulated genetic damage. Every time a cell divides, there is a small chance of a copying error in the DNA. Over a lifetime of cell division, environmental exposures, dietary influences, and natural wear on the body’s DNA repair systems, these errors accumulate. The immune system, which normally identifies and destroys abnormal cells before they proliferate, also declines in efficiency with age. The result is that the older a person is, the higher their risk of developing a cancer. More than 60% of all cancer diagnoses worldwide occur in people over 65. This is not a reason to give up on health — it is a reason to stay vigilant, to know your body, and to report changes to a doctor promptly.
Cancers Most Common in Nigerian Older Adults
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in older Nigerian men and is frequently detected at an advanced stage. Breast and cervical cancer continue to affect older Nigerian women who were not screened earlier in life. Colorectal cancer — cancer of the colon and rectum — is rising in Nigeria alongside dietary changes and is often diagnosed late because bleeding or bowel changes are attributed to haemorrhoids. Liver cancer arising from decades of Hepatitis B infection and cirrhosis is one of the most common cancers in older Nigerian men. Cervical cancer continues to affect older women who were not screened or vaccinated.
General Warning Signs That Must Not Be Dismissed as ‘Old Age’
- Unexplained weight loss — losing weight without trying, particularly significant amounts over weeks to months
- Persistent, unexplained fatigue that does not improve with rest
- A new lump or swelling anywhere in the body
- Blood where it should not be: in the urine, in the stool, coughed up, or unexplained vaginal bleeding after menopause
- A change in bowel habits persisting for more than three to four weeks — new constipation, diarrhoea, narrower stools, or a feeling that the bowel is never fully empty
- Difficulty swallowing that is persistent or worsening
- A cough that has changed character or persists beyond three weeks — particularly in a smoker
- A sore or wound that will not heal
- A mole or skin lesion that has changed or is new
- None of these symptoms confirm cancer — but all of them confirm the need for a proper medical evaluation
The Nigerian Reality — Why Older Adults Present Late
In Nigeria, the pattern of late cancer presentation is even more pronounced in older adults than in younger ones. Symptoms are attributed to ageing, to spiritual attacks, to the effects of past hardship, or to conditions already known about. Family members assume that an ‘old person’s’ complaints are not worth investigating because treatment would be too hard for them. This thinking costs lives. Many cancers in older adults are entirely treatable — and even when cure is not possible, the right medical care can significantly extend and improve quality of life. An older Nigerian adult deserves the same access to diagnosis and discussion about treatment options as anyone else.
Screening That Remains Relevant for Older Adults
- Prostate cancer: PSA testing for older men who have not previously been screened
- Breast cancer: clinical breast examination for older women who have never had mammography
- Colorectal cancer: stool blood test (FOBT) for older adults with bowel symptom changes
- Cervical cancer: older women who have never had a Pap smear should still be offered one — cervical cancer affects women into their 60s and 70s
How Doc on Wheels Can Help
If you or an elderly family member have symptoms that concern you, a doctor on Doc on Wheels can speak with you from home, assess the concern, and arrange relevant blood tests and investigations at home where possible. We also assist older adults in navigating referrals to cancer specialists and understanding what to expect. No one is too old to deserve a proper diagnosis and an honest conversation about what it means.