Rare cancer cases hit hardest at unprecedented rate, with millennials and generation X getting sick

Appendiceal cancer is a rare malignancy ; in the United States, it affects 1 to 2 people in 1 million. However, its incidence has been increasing in recent years among younger generations , as is the case with other gastrointestinal cancers, such as colon cancer and stomach cancer.

According to the latest research published by the Annals of Internal Medicine, the incidence of appendix cancer increased between 1975 and 2019. Compared to the generation of 1941-1949, people born between 1976-1984 are three times more likely to get sick, and those born between 1981-1989 are even four times more likely.

- This is an alarming and worrying trend - says Prof. Andreana Holowatyj, who is the main author of the study. In her opinion, the increase in the incidence of appendix cancer, as well as other gastrointestinal cancers, is not the result of improved detection of cancer diseases . It is related to changes in the environment, lifestyle and nutrition, and one of the main reasons is the increasing prevalence of obesity .

Appendicitis cancer can present with symptoms similar to appendicitis. These symptoms most often include:

• stomachache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• flatulence,
• change in bowel habits.

For this reason, it is usually detected incidentally, for example during an abdominal ultrasound examination.

In every second patient, the disease is already disseminated at the time of diagnosis and metastases to other organs occur . Treatment usually consists of surgical removal of the tumor and administration of chemotherapy.

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