Did you know that the average age for being diagnosed with cancer is 67, and that your risk of getting cancer rises dramatically as you age? These facts, coupled with the increasing longevity of the U.S. population, has made caring for older adults with cancer a major challenge.Here are some statistics that may help you realize how far we have come. In the 1930s, when President Roosevelt signed the Social Security legislation, the average lifespan in the United States was about 60 years. Today’s current lifespan is almost 79 years, and a 65-year-old person in average health will now live an average of 20 more years, while a 75-year-old could expect to live 12 more years. So, when it comes to making treatment decisions, the real issue for older adult cancer survivors is life expectancy – or how long you are going to live – and this can vary greatly, even for people of the same age.
Read More: Facing Cancer as an Older Adult: Special Factors You Should Consider When Making Treatment Decisions
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