The risk of developing cancer rises with age. Seniors, as a group, have the highest rates of cancer. There’s no way to completely prevent cancer, but making good lifestyle choices can sometimes lower the risk of developing cancer. If your senior mom or dad is living alone and you’re worried that they’re not making great lifestyle choices because things like cooking healthy meals are difficult for them elder care services can help. Seniors with elder care have support and encouragement to make better lifestyle choices.

Catching cancer early and getting appropriate treatment immediately can also increase the chances that seniors will survive cancer.

You and your senior mom or dad should be on the lookout for these five early warning signs of common cancers:

Unexplained Weight Loss

Significant and unexplained weight loss, especially if it occurs rapidly without changes in diet or physical activity, can be a warning sign of various cancers, including gastrointestinal, pancreatic, or lung cancer. By itself, weight loss doesn’t necessarily mean cancer. But if your mom or dad has unexplained or unexpected weight loss they should get a checkup that includes a cancer screening.

Changes in Bowel or Bladder Habits

Persistent changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or changes in stool consistency, could indicate colorectal cancer. Similarly, changes in urinary habits, such as increased frequency, urgency, blood in urine, or difficulty urinating, may be signs of bladder or prostate cancer. Any changes that your senior parent experiences should be checked out by a doctor sooner rather than later.

Persistent Pain

Unexplained and persistent pain, especially if it’s localized and doesn’t improve with treatment or time, can be a symptom of various types of cancer. This may include bone pain (a possible sign of bone cancer or metastasis), headaches (a possible sign of brain tumors), or abdominal or pelvic pain (indicating ovarian, pancreatic, or colon cancer). Often seniors won’t mention that they’re experiencing persistent pain because they assume chronic pain is just part of aging. But pain that doesn’t go away isn’t normal and should be checked out by their primary doctor.

Unusual Lumps or Swellings:

New or unusual lumps, bumps, or swellings anywhere in the body should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. These could be indicative of cancerous growths, such as breast lumps (a possible sign of breast cancer), lymph node enlargement (which can occur with various types of cancer), or testicular masses (a possible sign of testicular cancer). If you notice that your senior parent has new lumps or bumps talk to them about going to the doctor to have them checked for cancer.

Changes in Skin

Changes in the skin, such as new moles or changes in existing moles, unusual skin growths, or changes in skin color, should be examined by a dermatologist. Skin changes can be signs of skin cancer, such as melanoma or basal cell carcinoma. Skin cancer is very common in seniors, but if it’s caught early it’s often very treatable.

Sources: https://www.moffitt.org/taking-care-of-your-health/taking-care-of-your-health-story-archive/what-are-the-most-common-cancers-in-the-elderly/
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/index.htm

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Milan TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (731) 300-2300 

Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Jackson, Humboldt, Medina, Milan, Trenton, Brownsville, Madison County, and surrounding areas.

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seniorsolutionshomecarestaff

Staff at Senior Solutions Home Care

At Senior Solutions, we have refined our care management skills and developed high care standards to ensure the best care for our clients and their families, along with a commitment to training and mentorship for our professional caregivers and office staff.

Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.

Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!

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