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Skin Cancer in Older Adults

Background

There are three major types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and malignant melanoma (MM). Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer, accounting for 65–85% of cases (Kennedy-Malone et al., 2000). According to the American Cancer Society (2013), more than 3.5 million cases of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer are diagnosed every year. Squamous cell carcinoma is more common in African Americans and is also less serious than malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma accounts for only 3% of all skin cancers, but it is responsible for the majority of deaths from skin cancer. Older adults are 10 times more likely to get MM than adults under age 40 (Johnson & Taylor, 2012). About 8,420 people were estimated to die from malignant melanoma in 2008. The American Cancer Society (2013) estimated that in 2013 there would be over 76,000 new cases of malignant melanoma in the United States.

Risk Factors

Older adults are more susceptible to skin cancers because of a variety of factors. These include exposure to carcinogens over time (such as through sunburn or tanning booths) and immunosenescence, or a decline in immune function. Family history of skin cancers, multiple moles (more than 100), and pale skin also put a person at higher risk. The major risk factor for all types of skin cancer is sun exposure.

Warning Signs

The ABCDE method can help people remember the warning signs of skin cancer:
A = Asymmetry (if a line is drawn down the middle of the lesion, the two sides do not match)
B = Border (the borders of the lesion tend to be irregular)
C = Color (a variety of colors is present; the lesion is not uniform in color)
D = Diameter (MM lesions are usually larger)
E = Evolving (note any changes in shape or size, or any bleeding)

Diagnosis

Annual physical examinations should include inspection of the skin for lesions. Older adults should be taught to report any suspicious areas on their skin to the physician. Persons should particularly look for changes in shape, color, and whether a lesion is raised or bleeds.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common kind of skin cancer. It is often found on the head or face, or other areas exposed to the sun. Although there are different forms of BCC, the nodular type is most common, and appears as a raised, firm, papule that is pearly or shiny with a rolled edge. (Johnson & Taylor, 2012). Patients often complain that these lesions bleed and scab easily. When treated early, it is easily removed through surgery and is not life threatening, though it is often recurring.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) also appears as lesion on areas of the body exposed to the sun, or from other trauma such as radiation. HPV is a risk factor of SCC, and metastasis is more common than with BCC. The lesions of SCC appear scaly, pink, and thicker than BCC. Their borders may be more irregular and the lesions may look more like an ulceration.

Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma MM has a more distinctive appearance than other types of skin cancer. The areas appear asymmetric with irregular borders, a variety of colors (including black, purplish, and pink), and size greater than 6 mm. Malignant melanoma MM is often identified with the ABCDE method and MM accounts for the vast majority of deaths from skin cancer. The good news is that MM is almost always curable when found early. A skin check should be part of an older person’s yearly physical.

Treatment

The best treatment for skin cancer in the elderly is prevention. All older persons, especially those with fair skin who are prone to sunburn, should wear sunblock and protective clothing. Most skin cancers, when treated early, have a good prognosis.

All skin lesions larger than 6 mm, or those with any of the ABCDE signs, should be referred for biopsy. There are many nonsurgical interventions. These include cryotherapy, radiotherapy (for superficial BCC or SCC), electrodessication and curettage, and topical treatments. Topical treatments are generally not as effective as more aggressive interventions, but research is ongoing in this area.

The prognosis for MM depends on the extent and staging of the tumor, but when caught very early, the cure rate is nearly 100%. Malignant melanoma MM presenting in older adults is often more advanced and aggressive. Malignant melanoma MM metastases sites are typically the lymph nodes, liver, lung, and brain (Johnson & Taylor, 2012). Surgical treatment is required in malignant melanoma, with chemotherapy and radiation. Adjuvant treatments for MM are also often used.

For more information on Skin Cancer, visit the American Cancer Society at:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-melanoma/detailedguide/

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By Kristen Mauk|2025-11-04T17:18:07-05:00November 4th, 2025|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Distracted Driving Awareness

By Jim|2025-10-10T09:42:16-05:00October 30th, 2025|News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: Why Seniors Need To Hire An Elder Law Attorney

Given the rather complex legal concerns that the elderly have to face, seniors or those who are helping them make decisions should work hand-in-hand with an elder law attorney.

Seniors have rather unique legal needs, and elder law attorneys use their expertise in the different fields of law that elder law encompasses to serve those needs.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons seniors need the services of a lawyer who specializes in elder law.

Help With Medicaid

Seniors are going to need long-term care, and Medicaid is at the forefront of providing them with the necessary funding for it. However, Medicaid’s rules and regulations for eligibility can get rather complex.

By applying legal strategies properly, an elder law attorney can help seniors navigate those complexities and get the Medicaid coverage they need and deserve, and protect their money, property, or income at the same time.

Estate Planning

The elderly will also require assistance with their estate planning.

Many seniors have yet to create wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Others simply need to update and maintain their existing estate planning documents.

Elder law attorneys can help seniors with their estate planning to ensure that their assets are legally passed down without complication, and their wishes carried out to the letter.

Planning For Long-Term Care

It is a fact that health complications will eventually arise as people get older. For seniors, there is no better time to plan for long-term care than now, while they are still able to care for themselves.

Seniors will need to draft an advance health care directive, a document where they can specify the actions they want to be taken for their health in case they become incapacitated. They also need to plan for guardianship, so when they are no longer capable of caring for themselves, they can ensure that the court will appoint a guardian of their choosing. These are a couple of concerns that a skilled and experienced elder law attorney can help plan.

With an elder care attorney providing insight and expertise, seniors will be able to make sound legal decisions that will ensure that their future needs will be taken care of and help them get some much-needed peace of mind.

About the Author

Lauren Summers is the Content Marketing Strategist for Miller, Miller & Canby, one of the most respected law firms in Montgomery County, and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The firm focuses on five core areas of practice: Land Development, Real Estate, Litigation, Business and Tax, and Trusts and Estates Law. In her spare time, she reads books and plays board games with her husband and two kids.

By Jim|2025-10-10T09:42:01-05:00October 28th, 2025|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: Ways to Age-Proof Your Knees

You spend several hours of the day running to and fro to get tasks done. And perhaps you spend the other hours checking off your to-do list behind a computer screen. The question is, do you see yourself being able to do this with the same tenacity and fervor five, 10, 20, or even 30 years from now?

The reality is, knee pain impacts about 31 million people in the United States, often due to osteoarthritis. And the older you get, the greater your chances of developing knee issues, due to changes in your gait and posture. Fortunately, you can take steps today to start age-proofing your knees.

Here’s a look at a couple of ways to keep your knees feeling young and ready to move in the years and decades ahead.

Watch Your Body

One of the most important steps you can take to age-proof your knees is to pay close attention to your posture. Poor posture can shift your body weight off-center and forward. Compensating for this shift places extra weight on the knees.

By practicing good posture, you distribute your weight properly and remove the extra load from your knees. You can achieve excellent posture by sitting up with the shoulders back and the back straight.

Take Advantage of Knee Braces

Another way to age-proof your knees is to wear a knee brace. A well-designed brace will provide you with relief from soreness, weakness, or instability in your knees by providing your knees with extra support. A brace can also help to relieve the irritations and minor swelling tied to arthritic conditions.

Improve Your Knee Health with Confidence Today!

If you struggle with discomfort in your knees in the future, this can understandably take a toll on your physical mobility and, in turn, your mental health and overall quality of life. Although pain medication, such as anti-inflammatory medication, or a total knee replacement may help to address your problem, you can prevent your knees from getting to that point in the first place.

Age-proofing your knees doesn’t have to be complicated. Tap into the benefits of knee braces and paying closer attention to your posture to protect your knees’ health. Your future knees will thank you.

By Jim|2025-10-10T09:41:46-05:00October 26th, 2025|News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: How senior citizens can cope with diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that affects how the body uses glucose (sugar), the main source of energy. People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin (Type 1), or their body does not respond properly to insulin (Type 2). The most common types of diabetes are Type 2 and gestational diabetes, which affects women during pregnancy.

As you age, your body does not respond as well to diabetes medicine. You may find that your blood sugar is harder to control. Sometimes low blood sugar is a problem too because seniors tend to be less active than younger people so they don’t use up all their stored glucose or “sugar.” If you have trouble eating or drinking because of illness or other problems, ask your doctor if you should use a pump with insulin or pills instead of shots every day.”

As you age, your body does not respond as well to diabetes medicine.

As you age, your body does not respond as well to diabetes medicine. There are several reasons for this. The most common is that your kidneys are less efficient at processing the medicine, which can result in higher blood sugar levels than intended.

Another reason could be that there is a change in how well your liver processes the medication. In some cases, it may be necessary to adjust how often or how much you take each day in order for it to work effectively and keep your blood sugar under control.

You may find that your blood sugar is harder to control.

As you age, it’s likely that your body will respond less effectively to insulin. This means that your blood sugar may be harder to control.

You might also find that it’s more difficult for you to recognize the symptoms of low or high blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If these symptoms aren’t treated quickly enough, they could lead to serious complications such as seizures or even death.

If these things happen often enough, or if they cause a lot of discomfort or pain in addition to affecting how well your body works overall (for example: feeling confused), then it might be time for an adjustment in medication or weight loss plan for diabetes so that everything runs smoothly again!

Sometimes low blood sugar is a problem.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a problem that can occur if you have diabetes. It happens when your body doesn’t have enough sugar to meet its needs, so it sends signals to your brain that you need more of it.

These symptoms may occur:

Sweating or shakiness
Dizziness, weakness and fatigue

If you feel these symptoms, eat something sweet like juice or candy right away! It’s important not to ignore these warning signs because they could lead to unconsciousness if ignored for too long.

If you have trouble eating or drinking because of illness or other problems, ask your doctor if you should use a pump with insulin or pills.

If you have trouble eating or drinking because of illness or other problems, ask your doctor if you should use a pump with insulin or pills.

If you are having trouble eating or drinking because of illness or other problems, ask your doctor if you should use a pump with insulin or pills.

Take your diabetes medications as prescribed.

It’s important to take your diabetes medications as prescribed. If you don’t, it can be dangerous for several reasons:

Your blood sugar could go up or down, which can make you feel sick and tired.
You might get infections because of poor circulation caused by high or low blood sugar levels.
If a diabetic gets sick with an illness such as the flu or pneumonia, it may be harder for them to recover because their immune system isn’t working properly due to high or low blood sugar levels that aren’t being properly controlled by medication (or lack thereof).

Eat a healthy diet.

You should also eat a healthy diet. Your doctor can tell you what types of food are best for your diabetes.

Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. These foods are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, which helps keep you full longer so that it’s easier to control how much food you eat at each mealtime. They also contain important vitamins and minerals that help control blood sugar levels in the body. Examples include:
Fruit such as apples or oranges; vegetables such as carrots or broccoli; whole grains such as whole wheat breads/cereals (not white bread), oatmeal (not instant packets), brown rice

Work with your doctor to make exercise a regular part of your routine.

Exercise is important for senior citizens, who are more likely to have heart disease or diabetes than younger people. Exercise can lower blood sugar levels and help you live longer.

If you have diabetes, your doctor will recommend that you exercise at least 3 times per week for 30 minutes or more each time. Try to exercise at the same time every day so that it becomes part of your routine–for example, before breakfast or after dinner every evening (or both).

Exercise can be a social activity that brings people together in ways other than just talking about their health problems!

Get tested for high blood sugar if you are experiencing symptoms, such as fatigue and frequent urination.

Symptoms of high blood sugar
How to test for high blood sugar
Frequency of testing

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, get tested for high blood sugar:

Fatigue and frequent urination are common signs of diabetes. If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor about getting tested for diabetes.

If you have questions about your diabetes or treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you are unsure about your diabetes or treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Don’t be afraid to discuss symptoms with family members and friends. They may be able to help you recognize early signs of problems that could lead to a serious illness or injury if left untreated.
Ask for a copy of the results from all tests done during your visit so that they can be reviewed at home by someone who knows how they should look (e.g., doctor).

Senior citizens living with diabetes can lead productive lives if they manage their health properly.

The good news is that there are many ways to manage diabetes as you age, and these strategies can make it easier for seniors to live a full life.

Many seniors find that using insulin pumps or other forms of continuous infusion provides better control than multiple daily injections. Others may benefit from new devices such as closed-loop systems that automatically adjust dosing based on the glucose level in their blood at any given time. These technologies can help prevent dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar levels while also reducing stress on joints and muscles caused by frequent needle sticks.

It’s important to talk with your doctor about what will work best for you–and then stick with whatever plan they recommend!

Don’t let diabetes get in the way of enjoying your retirement!

Don’t let diabetes get in the way of enjoying your retirement!

You can still travel, eat out and exercise. You can do everything you always did and live a long, healthy life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope that you have found this article helpful. Diabetes is a serious condition that can be managed with proper care and treatment. If you are concerned about your own health or the health of someone in your family, make sure to contact a medical professional as soon as possible!

By Jim|2025-10-10T09:41:28-05:00October 26th, 2025|News Posts|Comments Off

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