Cancer
The second leading cause of death among people over 65 is cancer. The CDC reports that 21 percent of women and 28 percent of men over 65 are living with cancer. If cancer is caught in early stages through screenings such as colonoscopies, mammograms and skin checks, it can be treatable.
Respiratory diseases
Chronic lower respiratory diseases are the third most common cause of death, with 124,693 deaths in 2014, according to the CDC. About 13 percent of women and 10 percent of men are living with emphysema or chronic bronchitis, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. If you have a chronic respiratory disease, this increases the risk of pneumonia and other infections.
