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Appendix cancer is rare—but it has quadrupled in millennials

Most people only ever think about their appendix if it needs to be removed. But a worrying new trend is rewriting this narrative, as appendix cancer is on the rise in younger generations. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June found the rates of the disease has tripled among Gen X and quadrupled among millennials compared to people who were born in the 1940s... Experts agree it’s going to be difficult to reverse the rising numbers of appendix cancer without identifying a definitive cause. “I am certainly hopeful that the factors we discover will be ones where effective interventions can decrease appendiceal cancer incidence and begin to reverse these trends—if they were…

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Featured

 Rare Appendix Cancers Are Increasing Among Millennials and Gen X

The findings, from a new study, come at a time of growing concern about the earlier onset of several cancers.

Articles of Interest

Appendix cancer rising among younger generation – new study

Appendix cancer is a condition that, until recently, was so rare that most people never gave it a second thought. For decades, it was the kind of disease that doctors might encounter only once or twice in a career, and it was almost always found in older adults. But now a surprising and concerning trend is emerging: appendix cancer is being diagnosed more often, and it’s increasingly affecting people in their 30s, 40s and even younger. This shift has left many experts puzzled and searching for answers.

Appendix Cancers Are Genetically Distinct from Other Gastrointestinal Cancers, Study Shows

When cancer of the appendix cannot be removed completely with surgery, the standard treatment is to give patients the same chemotherapy regimens used to treat colorectal cancer. But recent studies analyzing the molecular characteristics of appendiceal cancers have suggested that approaching them as if they are the same as other GI cancers may be a mistake.

From Endometriosis to Appendix Cancer: How I conquered both

Dr. Miller told me there was mucus in the appendix and that I should follow up with a colon specialist soon. He knew something was wrong, but he wanted a colon specialist to confirm it and break the news to me. The colon specialist told me: I had appendix cancer. I was only 31 years old. The scary thing is that, not only is appendix cancer incredibly rare, I was totally asymptomatic for appendix cancer. I had trouble with constipation, but I had chalked that up to 10 years of scar tissue from the endometriosis surgery. Most symptoms don’t show until it’s fairly developed. I was so lucky that Dr. Miller caught it in the early stages. My oncologist has repeatedly told me that it’s never diagnosed this early.

Unraveling Rare: Appendix Cancer (Pseudomyxoma Peritonei)

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare cancer that usually starts in the appendix. Most often a polyp starts in the appendix in the inner lining. It is very infrequently discovered at this stage because it is asymptomatic. As it gets larger, it grows through the wall of the appendix into the abdominal cavity where more tumors form. These tumors then secrete mucin, which is a jelly-like substance, which accumulates in the abdomen and causes symptoms when it becomes too much. Typically, this build up leads to abdominal swelling that causes the classic “jelly belly” and leads to compression of the abdominal organs. It was first discovered in 1842 by Rokitansky and later named by Werth after he noted an association with ovarian mucinous tumors. PMP seems to affect men and women equally, while some sources claim it is more common in females.

What to Know About Appendiceal Cancer

A rare form of intestinal cancer, appendix cancer—like colorectal cancer—is on the rise for unknown reasons. “In the last century, the rates were around one to two per million people, but more recently, it’s been nearly one per 100,000 people,” says Dr. Alok Khorana, a medical oncologist and colorectal cancer researcher at the Cleveland Clinic.

Why the appendix is much more important than we once thought

The appendix may play a further role in protecting the gastrointestinal system from invading pathogens. This would explain why surgical removal of the appendix has been associated with a worse prognosis for recurrent infection with Clostridioides difficile, and an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis.

Resources

Appendix Cancer / Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation

Our mission is to fund and support promising research to find a cure for Appendix Cancer and Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP), and to fund educational programs for healthcare professionals and patients/caregivers & family members about these diseases.

4 appendix cancer questions, answered

Diagnosing appendix cancer can be a challenge. Unlike colorectal cancer’s colonoscopy or breast cancer’s mammogram, there aren’t screening tests that can be used to detect appendix cancer in its early stages. There aren’t obvious risk factors, and because appendix cancer symptoms are so general, like abdominal pain, they aren’t very helpful in identifying appendix cancer, either.