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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- About 80 percent of cancer diagnoses occur in the elderly, but many of their risk factors for the disease are behavioral, a new study revealed.
The Duke University study was done to estimate the impact measurable risk factors have on cancer in the elderly. It revealed more than 80 percent of known risk factors in individuals 65 years of age or older are potentially preventable.
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Some of the risk factor/cancer links were similar to those found in The National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS). Physical activity especially impacted colon and prostate cancers. Tobacco use was also significantly linked to lung cancer. Surprisingly, cancer risk was not related to alcohol consumption, which other studies have shown.
Interestingly, while all patients in the study were covered by Medicare, researchers found cancer and mortality risk was impacted by their specific Medicare plan.
The situation when additional payments have to be made out-of-pocket is the worst in respect to cancer and mortality risk, Igor Akushevich, Ph.D., senior research scientist, Center for Population Health and Aging at Duke University in Durham, N.C., was quoted as saying. The problem is more important for lung and colon cancers.
Other interesting findings were women who were afraid to visit the doctor for an assessment of potential health problems had an increased risk for breast cancer. In addition, those who never lose their temper had a lower risk of breast and lung cancer.
Researchers say more studies need to be done before the findings can be applied to clinical settings.
SOURCE: Research presented at the American Association for Cancer Researchs Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, November 16 - 19, 2008, Washington, D.C.
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