Cases of a rare type of cancer are reportedly increasing among youth in the United States. A recent study by National Cancer Institute published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals the concerning rise in cases of appendix cancer among millennials and Gen X population.
As nearly 5,000 cases of appendix cancer were studied, researchers concluded that cases of cancer among the Gen X population were three times more than compared with a control group of adults born between 1941 and 1949. Meanwhile, for the millennials, the figure was four times higher than the control group.
“There is a disproportionate burden of appendix cancer among young individuals,” said Andreana Holowatyj, the study’s lead author. Holowatyj is an assistant professor of hematology and oncology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center.
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The author added that although it’s concerning to see a rise of appendix cancer among the youth, it’s also “important to emphasize the rarity of this disease overall and not spark any considerable alarm.”
However, the puzzling upward trend in appendix cancer isn’t an isolated phenomenon. Another study found out “an overall increase in the incidence of malignant appendiceal tumors of 232% in the United States and 292% in Canada between 2000 and 2016.”
Dr. Holowatyj cautioned, “This is not a pattern that’s just limited to cancers of the appendix — we’re seeing this trend across multiple cancers in the gastrointestinal tract.”
A 2021 report mentioned that appendix cancer is a very rare cancer as a total of 1500 cases are diagnosed every year. Though chances of cancer generally increase with age, the recent jump in gastrointestinal cancers among youngsters has been shocking. While research is being done to find the reason behind this trend, so far, no clear reason has been identified.
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However, certain experts in the field have suggested that poor diet and lifestyle choices, obesity, alcohol and tobacco consumption might be contributing to the troubling trend.
Ardaman Shergill, MD, who works as an oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers at UChicago Medicine (he wasn’t a part of the study), says, “I speculate that risk-reducing strategies in other cancers, like not smoking, stopping or at least limiting alcohol, and regular exercise, may have beneficial effects in appendix cancer as well.”
Holowatyj mentions that her lab is working to find the reasons behind the growing appendix trend among the youth. “I’m inspired by all of my patients who have battled appendix cancer and continue to battle appendix cancer as they try and help us understand what’s driving disease development and how we can reduce this burden over time,” the researcher was quoted.
Appendix Cancer Symptoms
Zachary J. Brown, DO, a surgical oncologist and assistant professor of surgery says, “Symptoms of appendix cancer are vague, nonspecific, and often overlap with other gastrointestinal or gynecologic cancers.”
“Patients may experience nonspecific symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. As a result of the nonspecific symptoms and not being able to see this cancer on colonoscopy, appendix cancers are often found at a late stage,” Dr Brown further adds.
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As per MD Anderson Cancer Center of The University of Texas, appendix cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms unless it’s in an advance stage and has spread to other parts of the body. Therefore, identifying the cancer via symptoms in early stages is currently quite difficult. Also, the symptoms could vary from one person to another.
However, some of the symptoms mentioned by the MD Anderson Cancer Center are:
1. Acute appendicitis: Most cases of appendix cancer are discovered during surgery for appendicitis
2. Increase in abdomen size/girth, bloating
3. Vague abdominal discomfort in the lower right abdomen
4. Pelvic discomfort
5. New hernias
6. Bowel obstruction
7. Changes in bowel habits
8. Ovarian masses
9. Acute or chronic abdominal pain
It’s important to note that if you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have appendix cancer. Some of these symptoms may signal other health problems. Therefore, it’s important to visit a doctor and get yourself checked.
