Aging takes a toll on the body; the body struggles to heal as efficiently and effectively. DNA is a part of this; it connects accelerated aging with cancer risk.
“Essentially, our body’s DNA splits and comes back together daily,” said Dr. Daniel Landau, an oncologist, hematologist and contributor for The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “Cancers develop when the DNA does not come back together as it should.”
And that can happen as a person gets older. “Those mechanisms age just like the rest of us,” he continued. “When we are older, they just don’t work as well, and this increases the likelihood of cancers developing.”
Dr. Wael Herb, a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, California, explained this further: “For example, shortened telomeres — a hallmark of aging — reduce a cell’s ability to divide properly, leading to genomic instability, a known precursor to cancer.”
It’s important to note that aging can indirectly and directly contribute to cancer risk in other ways, too. Landau spoke about how we become more exposed to asbestos, smoke, radiation and other carcinogens throughout life, which doesn’t help our chances.
At the same time, the biological aging piece remains noteworthy. “It stands to reason that someone who is biologically older than they should be would be prone to cancerous development by virtue of the repair mechanisms not functioning properly,” he concluded.
Knowing the signs of cancer can help you identify it and get treatment ASAP. Briefly, general examples include fatigue, lumps, mouth sores, bladder and/or digestive symptoms, unexplainable pain and changes in your weight, appetite or skin.
For colorectal cancer specifically, be sure to look out for a change in bowel habits, blood in your stool, diarrhea, constipation, feeling as though you weren’t able to empty your bowel all the way, abdominal cramps and unexplained weight loss.
Those signs don’t always mean cancer, though.
“It is important to note that not all of these symptoms indicate cancer, but they do warrant medical evaluation to rule out malignancy or other conditions,” said Dr. Allison Foley, an internal medicine medical director at Providence St. Jude Clinic for Personalized Cancer Surveillance and Prevention. “Cancer may also be asymptomatic in its early stages, underscoring the importance of adhering to nationally accepted cancer screening guidelines, such as mammograms, colonoscopies and CT-lung cancer screenings for appropriate individuals.”
But back to accelerated aging: If you notice a loss in functioning or muscle mass, that you’re falling or visiting the ER more, or that your skin looks different, see a healthcare provider. They can help you take care of your life and health ASAP.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
