Has cancer treatment accelerated the aging process for you? Talk about a loaded question, right? I don’t know about you, but without a doubt, cancer treatment accelerated the aging process for me. Still, there is debate about this, too.
Exactly how much can be attributed to cancer treatment fallout and how much can be attributed to natural aging?
So why am I bringing this topic up now?
Because February is my birthday month. And no, I’m not going to share my age because I don’t generally do that. Of course, some of you know how old I am (pretty old) and if you’ve read my memoir, you’ve done the math. But still, I like to keep some things a mystery.
Let me just say, I am thrilled to still be here and able to celebrate yet another birthday.
This year’s birthday also meant it was time to renew my driver’s license. When my new license arrived in the mail recently, I took one look at my new photo and thought, oh yeah, you’ve aged, Nancy. And by the way, that number you plug in for your weight on your license, do you declare your real weight? Just wondering…
Recently, I read a study shared by @BCSMchat co-moderator, Dr. Attai, that specifically addressed this topic of aging acceleration being a direct result of cancer treatment. You can read Dr. Attai’s blog post about it here. You can read study details recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
As far as I’m concerned, researchers could just ask almost any cancer patient. But yes, we need studies about this stuff, too. Validation matters.
This particular study measured and compared inflammatory cytokines (proteins important in cellular signaling regarding inflammation and pain) and comorbidity developments (other medical problems) among breast cancer survivors and a non-cancer control group. Inflammation is associated with aging-related physical decrements and increased disability, hence this study. In short, inflammation is a big deal.
At the beginning of the study, both groups had similar baselines of the above mentioned inflammatory markers, but at the end of the 18-month study, the breast cancer survivor group had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than the control group, along with correlating higher levels of comorbidity.
Basically, this suggests that higher levels of inflammation likely result from cancer treatment and higher levels of inflammation result in increased comorbidities. One can conclude that the aging process is indeed accelerated by cancer treatment. In addition and unfortunately, this “pile on” of medical issues might also indicate premature mortality for some cancer survivors.
So again, it’s a big deal.
The study went on to say these things keep compounding over time and more follow-up is needed to further study them, as well as the biology specific to these effects. In other words, the worst might be yet to come for an individual patient since the issues can keep building up over time, sort of a snowball effect.
I don’t need convincing that cancer accelerates the aging process. Experts don’t all agree on this cause and effect idea, but it seems a correlation is indeed supported by this study.
It’s important to note, this particular study focused on inflammation driven issues, but there are other conditions that might arise down the road following cancer treatment as well, such as: cardiac or other organ toxicity, depression, neuropathy and decreased cognitive and physical functioning, to name a few.
This study makes it clearer (again) why oncologists (and others) these days are stressing more than ever the importance of exercise during cancer treatment and beyond. Exercise helps with a lot of things, including reducing inflammation.
Most of us fully realize the need for and benefit of exercise. I try to fit in some exercise most days. I also understand how hard it is for some and why condescending “blame the patient” articles and advisement are not helpful.
The difficulty sometimes is in the implementation.
Most survivors want to, try to and do some sort of exercise, but at the same time, many are plagued with considerable pain, fatigue and countless other issues that make exercise hard to do or to continue doing. And of course, there’s the normal life stuff to do; work, raising a family, household chores – just tending to all that stuff that needs doing in all our lives. These things get in the way for everyone, but for some cancer patients it can seem like too much to tackle because it is.
This is why it’s not always so easy to just do it.
Besides weight gain, I now have thin hair (which I hate – hair rant coming soon), neuropathy, joint pain, bone loss, sleep issues, hot flashes, lowered libido, fatigue, and a few other issues that shall remain unmentioned here.
And yes, I realize some of these can be and often are attributed to normal aging, but I know my body. I know exactly when these issues emerged or drastically worsened.
Bingo – right after cancer and cancer treatment rudely intruded into my life.
And one more thing, me “complaining” about these issues does not mean I am not grateful to be alive. My treatment saved me. I am still NED. I am grateful, but this other stuff matters, too. And yes, sometimes it pisses me off.
So does cancer treatment accelerate the aging process?
As far as I’m concerned, no study needed.
Without a doubt, it did for me.
What about for you?
Do you (if applicable) feel cancer accelerated the aging process for you?
In what ways specifically?
If you’re a patient or a health care professional and you agree cancer treatment accelerates aging, what if anything, can we do about it? Ideas welcome.
Note from Nancy: I wrote about cancer language, cancer worry, survivor guilt, loss, pet grief, COVID-19, DIEP flap surgery, life as an introvert, aging, resiliency, and more in EMERGING. Available at Amazon and most other online booksellers. Click on the image below to order your copy today!
Nancy S
Thursday 9th of March 2023
Cancer treatment absolutely accelerated the aging process for me. Before cancer, I was in great shape (albeit somewhat overweight, due more to genetics than anything), climbing mountains and skiing and canoeing and camping... and also looked much younger than my age. People my age always thought that I was ten years younger than they were, for some reason.
Now, after chemo, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, neratinib and ongoing anastrozole, I feel and look like someone ten years older than I am. I've been trying to regain my life force, but it's been difficult, as a couple of my close friends and outdoors-pals died suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving me without "go-to" friends for activities. And, to some extent, I blame the medical establishment. They know how chemo affects your nerves and muscles. They know how other meds affect your bones and joints. They know that ALL of the meds can cause fatigue. They know that surgery in your armpit damages muscles and nerves in that area. And instead of giving us support, like physical therapy and survivorship therapy, their answer to the weakness and fatigue and pain and depression is "walk around the block on a daily basis." Meanwhile, the fatigue says, "Just rest on the couch one more day."
Friends always say, "Well, three years have passed, how do you know it's not just normal aging?"
I just know.
Moon
Monday 20th of February 2023
Yes cancer treatment has aged me. I am 3 years six Mi this in anastrazole follow g lumpectomy and radiation. I will preface this to say that I have not experienced the bone pain/arthritic at Proms which are serious. And I have osteopenia which has stabilised. I am saddened when I look in the mirror and if you saw the youthful me from three years ago you’d be shocked. My dry thinning hair My thin receding lips Sagging skin, jowls Wrinkles I never had a sign off before. Uncomfortable dry skin everywheew and I mean everywhere Dry eyes interfering with contact lens use Of course I’m glad I am alive and worry about bone loss most of all These things are cosmetic but also personal and unless I remove the mirrors in my home a daily reminder of ageing faster than I expected. I do mourn the loss of the old me.
Nancy
Wednesday 1st of March 2023
Moon, It's normal to mourn the loss of the old you. The cancer experience and all that comes with it steals a great deal. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
cathy
Monday 20th of February 2023
As far as the cancer itself aging me, I can't say for sure if it aged me, I was lucky enough to have 2 surgeries and radiation. What I do know absolutely for sure is the treatment, anastrozole and letrozole for a year each, aged me tremendously, at least 10 years. Every muscle, bone & joint in my body hurt, couldn't think straight & very forgetful I'm sure there were more but I'm trying to forget. When they said I would be on those meds for 5 years, I knew I would be in a nursing home before that if I stayed on them. I know for sure it was those two drugs because I've switched to tamoxifen for just 2 1/2 months now and I feel like a new person. I feel at least 90% better than I did and it took less than a month to realize it. I felt much worse than I even admitted to myself. I'm not trying to sway anyone. I would probably do it the same way listening to my oncologist & trying the first two. I know tamoxifen works in different ways & there will be side effects but for right now, I'm enjoying feeling normal again and my age of 72 or maybe even younger!
Nancy
Wednesday 1st of March 2023
Cathy, I'm glad to hear you're doing better on tamoxifen. That's great. Thank you for sharing about your experience with the drugs we love to hate.
Katherine Hanlin-McPherrin
Thursday 9th of February 2023
Nancy, Your words echo my thoughts. My experience post cancer validates your hypothesis. My list of aging / collateral damage is fit for a clinical trial to prove your hypothesis! As you state, I’m eternally grateful to be alive. My diagnosis statistically has me dead! ( Stage 3c triple positive) . I entered a clinical trial, to include experimental drugs, mastectomy, radiation, 1 year of Herceptin, ( an anaphylactic reaction on the first round) .. My chart lists heart failure because of this , and am on an Rx for heart failure. I endured the 10 year tamoxifen Rx of which thinned my hair, the embarrassing hot flashes, and a dx of lichen sclerosis due to lack of estrogen ( my theory is when on tamoxifen, the lowering of estrogen is sudden , not gradually, as our own bodies would lower it. ) I have lymphedema due to removal of all lymph nodes and radiation to the entire left quadrant of my body. I’ve had skin cancer to the area my chest was radiated. My bones: A hip replacement . A reverse shoulder replacement due to the weight of lymphedema pulling the ball out of the socket! I’m on the “ But wait there’s more” Survivor Plan! My birthday is February 14, the same day I was told “ you have breast cancer “ in 2009. Life without cancer is bittersweet. PTSD comes and goes for the assaults of treatments, derailed career, inexplicable cancer-premature aging, lifelong side effects that haunt me in day to day living. Grateful and depressed all at the same time. Katherine Hanlin McPherrin AKA ABC Joywarrior 2/9/2023
Nancy
Friday 10th of February 2023
Katherine, Oh my gosh, that is a lot to deal with! The collateral damage from cancer treatment can be darn extensive, not to mention hard! So, I hear you. And yes, we are grateful for many things, but this doesn't mean we need be quiet about collateral damage issues, or anything, for that matter. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your birthday - it's soon here!
Temple
Friday 4th of February 2022
Hi from Australia! I’m 21/2 years on from stage 2 with lumpectomy and radiation plus anastrazole. Even without the horrors of chemo I only need to look at the selfies on my phone to see the difference. And 2 years before diagnosis I see no big difference like I do 2 years on now. - I feel more saggy and wrinkled, more wear and tear that I don’t think would have happened so quickly without BC. - I forget that I absolutely did not used to have creaky ankles at all, but now walk funny for a minute when I stand up and feel elderly for doing so. My fingers have joint pain. - I did not have pain from my breast to my underarm that makes me hesitant to lift things now. - dry skin and dry everything. Maintaining a hydration regimen that is annoying but the dry hair and skin (feet and elbows esp) is new and relentless. - exhaustion and anxious about my energy levels when asked to go on an outing. Wishing I didn’t get invited to things like an old hermit and definitely not my old party girl self - needing a nap all the time I’m living as if I am decades older but now trying to resist and up the exercise too. But the bone density risk is my biggest fear as I now have osteopenia. I was diagnosed just as we were to commence major home renovations. Cancer and renovation is not a good combination but it did allow me to plan more diligently for ageing: Ensuring smooth levels, no trip hazards, wide doorless shower, and I chose flooring that is more gently- polished concrete is very fashionable but I chose soft engineered oak. No rugs. Good lighting. Raised power points.
We bought a new remote controlled adjustable bed that makes it less painful to change the bed linen and choose bed height and angle. They don’t look like hospital beds either. Just a discrete remote.
It was a coincidence but it gave me new perspective to as to protecting myself and planning to minimise slips and trips.
Only we know how it feels and nobody will acknowledge it- it’s impolite to say “wow you’ve aged” to someone! I feel such grief about my the loss of old self but can’t dwell on it too often. I miss me.
Nancy
Saturday 5th of February 2022
Temple, I hear you. On all of it. And good for you for going ahead with those renovations and changes with your future in mind. And yes, we do grieve for our old selves. We are human, after all. Thank you for reading and taking time to comment too.