Question

Cancers are more prevalent in the elderly because the mechanism of cell division becomes faultier with age.

Answer 1

Cancer develops in older people because of their prolonged exposure to carcinogens such as sunlight, radiation, environmental chemicals, and substances in the food we eat. Mutations also occurs as a result of random errors when cell's DNA is copied therefore it divides. As a result human cells accumulate more mutations the longer we live. Moreover, changes in tissues and organs with advancing age renders cells' micro environment more favorable to the development of cancer. Other factors related to age that may play a role in cancer prevalence in older people include, term effects of chronic inflammation, cancer promoting DNA changes caused by oxygen free radicals, less effective DNA damage repair mechanisms, and weakening of the immune system.

Answer 2

This statement is true.
Risk of cancer increases significantly after the age of 50 and age is the biggest risk factor for cancer. A human cell can turn cancerous mainly due to mutations and other changes in its genome. At the end of each chromosome, there are small sequences of DNA called telomeres that have been implicated in aging and cancer. With each cell division, telomeres become shorter and once they get too short, the cell can no longer divide, becomes inactive or dies. This shortening process of telomeres' has been strongly connected to cancer, ageing and higher risk of death.