Let’s be real—growing older has its perks. We’ve got the grandkids’ soccer games to cheer at, the retirement trips we finally booked, and the wisdom to know that a quiet evening with a good book (and a glass of our favorite wine) beats a late-night party any day. But here’s the thing no one puts on the “silver years” highlight reel: our bodies start sending little signals. Some are no big deal—like a creaky knee after gardening or a memory slip when we’re trying to recall a movie title. But others? They’re red flags. We’re talking about dangerous growths—the kind that don’t just pop up out of nowhere, but quietly set up shop if we’re not paying attention.
You might be thinking, “Oh, I’ll just spot it if something’s wrong.” But here’s the truth: many of these growths are tricky. They blend in with our skin, hide in places we don’t check often, or masquerade as something harmless—like a bug bite or a mole we’ve had since high school. And for us Boomers? We’ve got a lifetime of sun exposure, stress, and maybe a few too many cheeseburgers under our belts—all things that can up the risk. But don’t worry—this isn’t a scare tactic. It’s a heads-up. Because the sooner we know what to look for, the easier it is to stop small problems from turning into big ones. Let’s dive in.
First: Let’s Talk About “Growths”—and What Makes Them “Dangerous”
Before we get to the signs, let’s clear up a common mix-up: not every “growth” is bad. In fact, most of the lumps, bumps, and spots we get as we age are totally benign (that’s doctor-speak for “harmless”). Think about the little skin tags that pop up under your arms or on your neck—annoying, maybe, but not dangerous. Or the age spots (we call them “liver spots,” even though they have nothing to do with your liver) that show up on your hands or face after years in the sun. Those are just your skin’s way of saying, “Hey, we’ve had a good run!”
But then there are the growths that aren’t benign. These are the ones that grow too fast, change shape, or cause symptoms—and they can be a sign of something serious, like skin cancer, thyroid issues, or even tumors in places you can’t see (like your colon or lungs). The key here is to know the difference between “meh, that’s fine” and “uh-oh, I need to call my doctor.” And for us Boomers, that’s extra important because our bodies don’t heal as quickly as they used to, and some health issues can progress faster than we’d like.
Sign #1: The “Mole” That’s Not Acting Like a Mole (Skin Cancer Red Flags)
If there’s one growth we should all be watching for, it’s changes in our moles. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S.—and Boomers are at a higher risk because we spent our youth sunbathing without sunscreen (who remembers slathering on baby oil at the beach? Guilty!). But here’s the good news: if caught early, most skin cancers are curable. The problem is, many of us don’t check our moles regularly, or we miss the small changes that matter.
So what should you look for? Doctors use the ABCDE rule—and it’s easy to remember, even if you’re juggling a grocery list and a grandkid’s soccer schedule:
- A is for Asymmetry: If you draw a line down the middle of the mole, do both sides look the same? If one side is lopsided or looks different from the other, that’s a red flag. Normal moles are usually symmetrical—like a little circle or oval that matches on both sides.
- B is for Border: Is the edge of the mole smooth, or is it jagged, blurry, or irregular? Think of a normal mole as having a clean “outline”—like a circle you’d draw with a marker. If the border looks like it’s “bleeding” into the surrounding skin, that’s not good.
- C is for Color: Does the mole have one solid color (brown, black, or even pink), or is it splotchy with different shades? Maybe there’s a dark spot in the middle and lighter brown around the edges, or even a hint of red or white. Normal moles are usually one consistent color—so splotches mean you should check in with your dermatologist.
- D is for Diameter: Is the mole bigger than a pencil eraser? (That’s about 6 millimeters, or ¼ inch.) Now, some moles start small and stay small—and that’s fine. But if a mole is already bigger than a pencil eraser, or if it’s growing bigger over time, that’s a sign to get it checked.
- E is for Evolving: Is the mole changing—at all? Maybe it’s getting bigger, darker, or itchier. Maybe it’s starting to bleed a little, or it’s scabbing over and not healing. Even small changes (like a mole that used to be flat but is now raised) count here. Our skin changes as we age, but individual moles shouldn’t change much once they’re fully formed.
Let me tell you about my friend Carol—she’s 68, loves gardening, and has always had a few moles on her arms. Last year, she noticed one mole on her forearm was “different.” It was a little bigger than the others, and the edge looked “fuzzy,” like someone had smudged it. She kept meaning to call her dermatologist, but life got busy—grandkids’ birthdays, a trip to Florida, and then a cold that lingered. Finally, her daughter noticed it and said, “Mom, that’s not right—make an appointment today.”
Turns out, it was an early stage of melanoma—the most serious type of skin cancer. But because she caught it early, the doctor removed it in a quick office visit, and she didn’t need any further treatment. Carol now checks her moles every month (she keeps a little hand mirror in her bathroom to see the spots on her back) and makes sure her grandkids wear sunscreen. “I used to think ‘skin cancer’ was for people who tanned too much,” she says. “But it’s for people like me—who just loved being outside.”
Pro tip: Check your skin once a month, and ask a partner or friend to help with hard-to-see spots (like your back or the back of your legs). If you see anything that fits the ABCDE rule, call a dermatologist within a week—don’t wait for your annual checkup.
Sign #2: Lumps Under the Skin That Don’t Go Away (And Might Hurt)
We’ve all felt a little bump under our skin from time to time—maybe a swollen lymph node when we’re sick, or a cyst from an ingrown hair. Most of the time, these lumps go away on their own within a week or two. But if you feel a lump that’s not going away, or that’s getting bigger, that’s another sign to pay attention to.
Let’s break down the most common places these lumps show up—and what they might mean:
1. Neck, Armpits, or Groin: Lymph Nodes
Your lymph nodes are little “filters” in your body that help fight infection. When you’re sick (like with a cold or strep throat), they can swell up—usually in your neck, armpits, or groin. But those swollen nodes should shrink back down once you’re better. If you have a lump in one of these areas that’s been there for more than two weeks, or that’s hard (like a rock) instead of soft, that’s a problem. It could be a sign of an infection that won’t go away on its own, or even something more serious like lymphoma (a type of cancer that affects the lymph system).
Take my neighbor Tom—he’s 72, a retired teacher, and he’s always been healthy. Last winter, he had a cold that lasted a few weeks, and he noticed a small lump under his armpit. He thought it was just a swollen lymph node from the cold, so he waited for it to go away. But a month later, it was still there—and it had gotten a little bigger. His wife insisted he go to the doctor, and after some tests, they found out it was a bacterial infection that needed antibiotics. “I was so stupid to wait,” Tom says. “I thought, ‘Oh, it’ll go away.’ But it didn’t—and I could’ve gotten really sick if I’d waited longer.”
2. Thyroid: A Lump in Your Throat
Your thyroid is a little gland in your neck, right below your Adam’s apple (or where an Adam’s apple would be if you’re a woman). It controls your metabolism—so if it’s not working right, you might feel tired, gain weight, or have trouble sleeping. But sometimes, the thyroid can develop nodules (little lumps). Most thyroid nodules are benign—about 90% of them don’t cause any problems. But some can be cancerous, especially in people over 60.
How do you check for a thyroid lump? Stand in front of a mirror, tilt your head back, and swallow. As you swallow, look at your neck—do you see a bump that moves up and down? Or can you feel a lump when you press gently on the area? If you do, don’t panic—but call your doctor. They’ll do an ultrasound to see if the nodule is solid or fluid-filled (fluid-filled ones are almost always benign) and maybe a blood test to check your thyroid levels.
My aunt Margaret had a thyroid nodule a few years ago. She noticed it when she was putting on a necklace—she felt a little bump under her skin. She went to the doctor, had an ultrasound, and found out it was benign. But her doctor told her to get it checked every year, just in case. “It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you feel it,” she says. “But now I make sure to mention it at my annual checkup—better safe than sorry.”
3. Breasts (Yes, Men Too!): Lumps or Changes
When we hear about breast lumps, we usually think of women—but men can get breast cancer too, especially as they get older. For women, breast lumps are common (many are cysts or fibroadenomas, which are benign), but it’s still important to check for changes.
For women: Get in the habit of doing a breast self-exam once a month (your doctor can show you how). Look for lumps (they might feel like a pea or a marble under the skin), thickening of the breast tissue, or changes in the nipple (like discharge, redness, or a nipple that turns inward). Also, check for changes in the size or shape of your breasts—if one looks different from the other, that’s a sign to call your doctor.
For men: Breast cancer is rare, but it’s more common in men over 60. Look for lumps under the nipple (that’s where most male breast cancers start), swelling in the breast, or nipple discharge. My friend Mike—he’s 75—noticed a small lump under his nipple last year. He was embarrassed to talk about it at first, but his wife told him, “Embarrassment doesn’t matter—your health does.” He went to the doctor, and it turned out to be a benign cyst, but he’s glad he checked. “I never thought men had to worry about breast lumps,” he says. “Now I tell all my guy friends to check—you never know.”
Sign #3: Growths Inside Your Body (The Ones You Can’t See)
Not all dangerous growths are on the outside—some are inside your body, where you can’t see or feel them. These are trickier, but they often send other signals that something’s wrong. Let’s talk about the most common ones Boomers need to watch for:
1. Colon Polyps (And Colon Cancer)
Your colon (large intestine) is part of your digestive system, and it’s where waste leaves your body. Over time, small growths called polyps can form on the lining of your colon. Most polyps are benign, but some can turn into colon cancer if they’re not removed. Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the U.S.—but it’s also one of the most preventable, because polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy before they turn cancerous.
The problem? Colon polyps don’t usually cause symptoms until they’re big or turn into cancer. That’s why doctors recommend that everyone over 45 get a colonoscopy (if you have a family history of colon cancer, you might need to start earlier). But many Boomers skip this test—either because they’re scared of the prep (yes, the laxative part is unpleasant) or because they think “I feel fine, so I don’t need it.”
Let me tell you about my dad—he’s 78, and he avoided colonoscopies for years. He’d say, “I don’t have any stomach pain, I go to the bathroom regularly—why do I need a test?” Finally, my sister begged him to go, and he agreed. During the colonoscopy, the doctor found two polyps—one of them was precancerous. They removed both during the test, and now he goes every 5 years. “I was stupid to wait,” he says. “The prep was bad, but it was over in a day. Now I know I’m safe—and that’s worth it.”
What if you can’t get a colonoscopy? There are other tests, like a stool test (which checks for blood in your stool) or a CT colonography (a scan of your colon). Talk to your doctor about which one is right for you—but don’t skip it. Colon cancer is curable if caught early, but if it spreads, it’s much harder to treat.
2. Lung Nodules (And Lung Cancer)
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and Boomers are at a higher risk—especially if we smoked in our younger years (even if we quit decades ago). Like colon polyps, lung nodules (small growths in the lungs) are usually benign, but some can turn into lung cancer.
Most lung nodules don’t cause symptoms until they’re big or spread to other parts of the body. That’s why doctors recommend low-dose CT scans for people who are at high risk: adults between 50 and 80 who smoked a pack a day for 20 years (or two packs a day for 10 years) and either still smoke or quit within the last 15 years.
My mom smoked when she was in her 20s and 30s—she quit when my sister was born, so that’s over 40 years ago. Last year, her doctor recommended a low-dose CT scan, and they found a small nodule in her lung. She was terrified, but the doctor told her it was small (less than 5 millimeters) and looked benign. They did another scan six months later, and it hadn’t grown—so they’re just monitoring it now. “I never thought my smoking years would catch up to me,” she says. “But getting that scan gave me peace of mind. Now I tell everyone I know who smoked to get checked.”
If you have a lung nodule, your doctor will probably recommend follow-up scans to see if it grows. If it does, they might do a biopsy to check if it’s cancerous. The key here is to catch it early—lung cancer is much easier to treat if it’s found before it spreads.
Sign #4: Growths That Cause “Weird” Symptoms (Don’t Ignore the Little Things)
Sometimes, dangerous growths don’t show up as lumps or bumps—they show up as weird, seemingly unrelated symptoms. These are the ones we often brush off as “just part of getting older,” but they can be signs of something serious. Let’s talk about the most common ones:
1. Unexplained Weight Loss
Losing a few pounds without trying might sound like a win—especially if we’ve been trying to shed those extra 10 pounds for years. But if you lose 10 pounds or more in six months without changing your diet or exercise routine, that’s a red flag. It could be a sign of a growth in your stomach, pancreas, or lungs—all of which can affect your appetite or how your body absorbs food.
My friend Linda—she’s 70—lost 12 pounds in three months without trying. She thought, “Great, I don’t need to diet anymore!” But then she started feeling tired all the time, and her clothes were too loose. Her daughter took her to the doctor, and after some tests, they found a small tumor in her pancreas. Luckily, it was caught early, and she had surgery to remove it. “I thought the weight loss was a good thing,” she says. “But it was my body telling me something was wrong. I wish I’d gone to the doctor sooner.”
2. Persistent Fatigue
We all feel tired sometimes—after a busy week with the grandkids, or a long day of gardening. But if you’re tired all the time, even after getting enough sleep, that’s not normal. Fatigue can be a sign of a growth in your thyroid (which affects your energy levels), your blood (like anemia from colon cancer), or even your lungs (which affects how much oxygen gets to your body).
My uncle Joe—he’s 73—was always a busy guy: he volunteered at the library, played golf every weekend, and helped his grandkids with their homework. But last year, he started feeling so tired that he couldn’t even make it through a round of golf. He thought it was “just old age,” but his wife made him go to the doctor. They found out he had a low red blood cell count, which was caused by a small polyp in his colon that was bleeding (just a little, but enough to