Aging Gracefully Even During Cancer
- Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, 82, says she does not dwell on her age and still lives a vibrant, healthy, and active lifestyle.
- Although cancer incidence affects people under 50 at increasing rates, many within the cancer community can relate to age-related concerns. Enduring treatment, staying active, and learning new ways of living during and after cancer treatment don’t always come easy when you’re older.
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says aging is a “risk factor for adult cancers” and that some cancer treatments may “accelerate aging.” The NCI notes the “median age of a cancer diagnosis is 66 years old.”
- Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and managing stress are some of the things SurvivorNet experts recommend for cancer survivors to lead healthy lives. Getting regular checks for recurrence may also be recommended.
- One benefit of maintaining optimal health for those with cancer is they are more likely to endure treatment better and experience fewer side effects, MD Anderson’s Dr. Sairah Ahmed told SurvivorNet.
Lifestyle icon Martha Stewart has lived a full life that has reached the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and she would be the first to tell you about it. However, at 82-years-old she doesn’t let that number attached to her name hold her back from doing what she loves – cooking, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
“Aging isn’t something I think about. How old I am, slowing down, retiring – I just don’t dwell on that,” Stewart previously told AARP Magazine.
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“People talk about aging successfully, but I think of it as living gracefully and living to the absolute fullest,” Stewart adds.
Stewart is an entrepreneur, author, and TV personality. Her lifestyle brand began in the early 1980s and touched on various topics, from food, home and gardening, beauty, and more. According to CNN, in the early 2000s, Stewart became entangled in legal woes after she was found guilty of obstructing justice and lying about a stock sale. She spent a few months in prison beginning in 2004.
“I have had two real setbacks – a sad divorce and my well-documented legal issues. That’s pretty good, having only two,” Stewart said.
Nowadays, Stewart is relishing her golden years all while keeping active.
“I wake up early, early, early – often at 4 a.m. – and read the newspaper to make sure nothing bad has happened overnight. I do Pilates at 6:15 a.m. three times a week. I ride horses. I travel,” Stewart said.
“I haven’t had a death in the immediate family. I haven’t had health problems. I don’t take any medicine. I have very good blood pressure. And at age 77, I stopped wearing glasses after wearing corrective lenses from the time I was 16!” Stewart said.
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Stewart’s positive outlook on aging is linked to her willingness to keep her mind fresh and vibrant. She was an “early adopter of personal computers” and scoffs at some of her similarly aged friends’ refusal to use their cell phones for photos. She adds that she enjoys spending time with younger people, especially her grandchildren. She calls them her “teachers.”
“The idea is that aging is not about dying. It’s about living well. Because people are aging so differently now,” Stewart said.
“If you take care of yourself, you can live an active, healthy, long life,” she continued.
Helping You Live a Healthy Lifestyle
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- How to Maintain a Healthy Diet During Chemotherapy
- Exercise During Cancer Treatment — Hard Evidence That Ruth Bader Ginsburg Is Doing The Right Thing
- Ovarian Cancer Diet and Exercise – Being Realistic
- New Hard Evidence That Exercise Measurably Reduces Anxiety– 150 Minutes Per Week Makes The Difference
Does Your Age Matter in Cancer?
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says aging is a “risk factor for adult cancers” and that some cancer treatments may “accelerate aging.” The NCI notes the “median age of a cancer diagnosis is 66 years old.”
So, does your age matter when it comes to cancer? It may.
“Most people who are diagnosed with cancer and most cancer survivors are older than 65. Because of this, most cancer care teams have experience treating people who are older,” says CancerNet, a patient resource from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
As your care team prepares your treatment plan, your overall health is considered. Your overall health includes various aspects of your life, such as your activity levels, eating and exercise habits, cognitive ability, and other ailments you are dealing with.
Another reason your overall health matters when you’re older is because it may impact how well you can tolerate certain cancer treatments. Cancer surgery – as with any surgery – comes with the risk of complications and side effects. Other common cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, or a bone marrow transplant, all come with possible side effects that may require sufficient health to tolerate them.
WATCH: The role of diet and exercise in cancer risk.
Helping You Live a Healthy Life
The general recommendations for a healthy lifestyle are similar whether you have cancer or not.
Dr. Ken Miller, the Director of Outpatient Oncology at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, shared some guidelines for cancer survivors who are concerned about a recurrence with SurvivorNet:
- Exercise at least two hours a week, and walking counts.
- Eat a low-fat diet.
- Eat a colorful diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends aiming for two to three cups of vibrant vegetables and fruits each day.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Studies have shown that being obese can increase your risk for several types of cancer.
“The more physically fit you are going through your cancer treatment, the fewer side effects you’ll have and the faster you’ll get back to your normal quality of life,” Dr. Sairah Ahmed told SurvivorNet.
Dr. Ahmed is an associate professor in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
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