Is Your Senior at Risk for Lung Cancer?

By Gauthier Family Home Care | November 21, 2018 | Comments Off on Is Your Senior at Risk for Lung Cancer?

More than 234,000 people throughout the United States will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. Throughout the country, more than 540,000 people are living who have received a diagnosis for this disease at some point in their life. This can be a devastating disease and has a five-year survival rate, lower than that of many other types of cancer. As a family caregiver, it is important to recognize that chances for survival increase dramatically the earlier the disease is detected, with the highest rates among those who detect the disease when it is still localized. You can help your parent be prepared for early detection by recognizing risk factors that increase the possibility your parent will develop this disease.

Senior Care in Grand Rapids MI: Lung Cancer Risk Factors

Some factors that increase the possibility your senior will develop lung cancer include:

  • Being older. Approximately 86 percent of those living with the disease are over the age of 60, and risk increases with age.
  • Approximately 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths have smoking as a contributing factor.
  • Exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Exposure to radon.
  • Exposure to asbestos.
  • Family history of lung cancer.
  • Exposure to air pollution.
  • Exposure to arsenic in drinking water.
  • Previous radiation therapy to the lungs.
  • Frequent use of certain dietary supplements.

 

If your aging parent has these risk factors, don’t hesitate to talk to their doctor about these risks and what you can do to help reduce them for your senior. The doctor can give you recommendations for how to support your senior’s health and for screenings and tests that may allow for early detection of the disease.

 

If you’ve been looking for effective and meaningful ways to help your senior live a healthier lifestyle, senior care may be the ideal solution. Integrating a senior home care services provider into your care routine with your parent is a way for you to empower your parent to take care of their own health and well-being, pursue greater independence and autonomy, and still manage their needs in supportive and respectful ways. Senior care is highly customized, meaning it addresses your parent as a whole individual rather than just as separate challenges and needs. This not only helps your parent maintain health, safety, comfort, and fulfillment as they age, but also allows you to focus your energy and attention on all elements of your life as effectively as possible.

If you or someone you know needs help with senior care in Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.

 

Sources

https://www.lungcancer.org/

(https://www.lungcancer.org/find_information/publications/163-lung_cancer_101/273-risks) (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/risk-factors.html)

Gauthier Family Home Care
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Posted in Cancer, Health Issues, Lung Cancer, Senior Care in Grand Rapids MI and tagged