Once considered extremely rare, appendix cancer is now rising at an alarming rate among younger generations, according to a new study.
An analysis of data from the National Cancer Institute published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that the rates of appendix cancer have tripled among Generation X and quadrupled among millennials in the United States.
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The appendix is a small, tube-like pouch attached to the large intestine that may help support gut health, but its exact purpose remains unclear. Annually, appendix cancer affects only about 1 or 2 people per one million. Appendix cancers are hard to screen for, unlike colon cancers, because they are not easily seen on scans or colonoscopies.
For the study, researchers reviewed 4,858 cases of appendix cancer diagnosed between 1975 and 2019, uncovering a generational pattern: younger people are increasingly being diagnosed and often at later stages. This is largely because the cancer is usually not discovered until after an appendectomy is performed due to suspected appendicitis.
“There is a disproportionate burden of appendix cancer among young individuals. About 95% of cases are diagnosed only after the appendix is surgically removed and examined,” said lead author Dr Andreana Holowatyj, assistant professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Experts believe this trend is part of a broader rise in gastrointestinal cancers among younger adults.
“There’s a clear uptick in early-onset GI cancers, including colorectal,” said Dr. Andrea Cercek, co-director of the Center for Early Onset Colorectal and GI Cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering. “Environmental factors, dietary habits, microplastics, or other post-World War II lifestyle shifts may be contributing.”
The experts warn that young patients shouldn’t ignore symptoms like persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or extreme fatigue. Other symptoms include appendicitis, bowel obstructions, vague pain in the lower right abdomen, and changes in bowel habits.
