Posted on 06/14/2025 7:30:27 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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.
The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. Its purpose in the body is still debated, but it's best known for causing appendicitis, a painful inflammation that often requires emergency surgery. What's less well known is that cancer can develop in the appendix, usually without any warning signs.
A new study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, has shown that the number of appendix cancer cases has increased dramatically among people born after the 1970s. In fact, the incidence has tripled or even quadrupled in younger generations compared with those born in the 1940s.
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.
The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. Its purpose in the body is still debated, but it's best known for causing appendicitis, a painful inflammation that often requires emergency surgery. What's less well known is that cancer can develop in the appendix, usually without any warning signs.
A new study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, has shown that the number of appendix cancer cases has increased dramatically among people born after the 1970s. In fact, the incidence has tripled or even quadrupled in younger generations compared with those born in the 1940s.
My nephew got diagnosed with Stage 4 Appendix Cancer at age 13 in February 2020. In October 2024 just a month after turning 18 he died of this cancer :(
As a “seasoned citizen”, I’ve had one surgical operation in my life...removal of my appendix in the 2nd grade.
According to AC/DC it beats a walk in the park!
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