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As we age, our risk of developing cancer increases – but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. In fact, the choices we make in our 40s, 50s, and beyond can significantly influence our long-term health. In recognition of World Cancer Day, this article explores why cancer is more common with age, and more importantly, what you can do now to protect your health and support early detection.
This year, World Cancer Day is on the 4th of February1. It is a day to raise awareness about cancer risk and prevention. The theme of World Cancer Day 2025-2027 is “United by Unique”, and it encourages us to look beyond the disease and to see people living with cancer as more than just patients.
The best way to fight cancer is to prevent it. Age is a major risk factor in the development of most cancers. By 2035, it is predicted that almost half (46 per cent) of people diagnosed every year will be over 75 in the UK2. This article will explain why this is, and what proactive measures you can take to age well and stay ahead of health issues that may arise in the future.
Why Cancer Risk Increases With Age
The biology of ageing and cancer
Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the genetic code that acts as the instruction manual for every cell in your body. If DNA is damaged, cells start behaving abnormally. This can lead to cells rapidly and uncontrollably dividing, causing growths that can be benign, pre-cancerous, or cancerous3.
Factors known as carcinogens, like tobacco smoke, alcohol, ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun or a sunbed, or asbestos, cause DNA damage and can lead to cancer. Hormonal changes, like high levels of oestrogen or insulin, can also lead to increased risk of breast or bowel cancer4–6.
Apart from protecting you from viruses and bacteria, your immune system is also important for identifying and removing abnormal or dying cells. As you get older, your immune system becomes less efficient. This can make abnormal cells harder to detect before they become a problem. As you age, your cells also become less able to police themselves and initiate a process called apoptosis, in which your cells signal to the immune system that it is time to remove them from the body7,8.
More time, more exposure
Cancer Research UK describes cancer as a disease of ageing2. The advancements of modern medicine and knowledge about the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices mean that we are all living longer.
Therefore, we are around longer to be exposed to things that might be problematic to our health, like UV radiation, tobacco smoke (even second-hand smoke), alcohol, and diseases, all of which have the potential to increase our risk of different cancers over time3,6,9,10.
The Most Common Cancers Linked to Ageing
Cancers are more prevalent with age
Age is a major risk factor for the most common types of cancer, which account for over half (53 per cent) of all cancer diagnoses in the UK11. These include:
- Prostate cancer12
- Breast cancer12
- Lung cancer12
- Bowel cancer12
Together, these accounted for 45 per cent of all cancer-related deaths.
Over half of new cancer diagnoses in 2022 were in people over 7013.
Why early detection is especially important in older adults
A lot of cancers, especially ones with lower survival rates like pancreatic or lung cancer14, do not have symptoms until the disease is fairly advanced. Since a lot of cancers are not routinely screened for in the UK, many of them are only spotted at later stages when treatment options are limited. Pre-existing medical conditions can also limit options for treatment15.
The earlier a cancer is spotted, the more treatment options are available, and the less invasive those options are, which generally leads to better outcomes. Prevention is always better than treatment. By understanding what to look out for, you can greatly improve the chances of identifying issues before they become a serious problem16.
What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk
Embrace a cancer-preventive lifestyle
By making good lifestyle choices, you can significantly reduce your risk of certain cancers. These could be as simple as:
- Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet
- Exercising regularly17
- Limiting alcohol18
- Avoiding Tobacco19
- Wearing suncream20
- Prioritising sleep21
Adopting these habits isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistent, small changes that add up over time. This will help you age better and reduce cancer risk over time. For personalised advice, speak to a healthcare professional or your General Practitioner (GP)22.
Know your personal risk factors
Understanding your risk of developing cancer can allow you to proactively include screening as part of your health routine. Risk factors include:
- Family history
- Genetic markers
- Previous illnesses, for example, excessive liver scarring (cirrhosis) increases risk of liver cancer23
- Exposure to carcinogens
If any of these apply and are causing you concern, contact your GP for advice.
Prioritise regular screening
To give you peace of mind, an annual health review with your GP can help you monitor your overall health and help you stay on top of things. By organising an annual health review, you can keep track of things like your weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure, which can contribute to your risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke24.
An annual health review could also be an opportunity to speak about subtle changes to your health that may not warrant their own GP visit. Examples of this include:
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
- Changes in appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
These may be subtle indications of an underlying issue or may be completely benign. Either way, speaking to a healthcare professional can provide peace of mind22.
The Role of Multi-Organ MRI in Ageing Well
Beyond an annual health review, you can also organise your own screening. Ezra’s 14-organ Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) scanner allows you to screen for early signs of cancer and over 500 non-cancerous conditions.
MRI technology uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed 3-dimensional images. These scans can examine 14 organs at once. They are quick (often under 1 hour), painless, and non-invasive. Expert radiologists, supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhanced tools, can analyse results quickly.
Conclusion
Though we can't stop ageing, we can take steps to preserve our health for years to come. By using World Cancer Day to become more informed, we can start investing in our health now to prevent poor health outcomes in the future. By understanding how we can make better choices, knowing when to get screened, and knowing which tools are available to us, we can put ourselves in the best position possible.
Want to get ahead of your health? Ezra’s MRI scan can screen for many cancers before symptoms begin. It’s fast, non-invasive, and AI-powered. Book your Ezra scan today.
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References
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3. Cancer Research UK. Genes, DNA and cancer | Cancer Research UK. Accessed January 30, 2026. https://cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/genes-dna-and-cancer
4. Cancer Research UK. Risks and causes of cervical cancer. Accessed January 16, 2026. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cervical-cancer/risks-causes
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9. Danovi S. Understanding the link between inflammation and cancer. Cancer Research UK - Cancer News. February 1, 2013. Accessed January 23, 2026. https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2013/02/01/feeling-the-heat-the-link-between-inflammation-and-cancer/
10. Ruiz-Núñez B, Pruimboom L, Dijck-Brouwer DAJ, Muskiet FAJ. Lifestyle and nutritional imbalances associated with Western diseases: causes and consequences of chronic systemic low-grade inflammation in an evolutionary context. J Nutr Biochem. 2013;24(7):1183-1201. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.02.009
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17. Cancer Research UK. What are the benefits of exercise? | Cancer Research UK. Accessed January 23, 2026. https://cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/physical-activity-and-cancer/what-are-the-benefits-of-exercise
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