Appendix Cancer Has Quadrupled in Millennials
Credit - Science Photo Library—Getty Images
Cancer is generally a disease of old age. But researchers are increasingly finding that certain types—including colon, breast, stomach, and pancreatic cancers—are hitting people younger than 50 far more commonly than they used to.
In a new report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers at Vanderbilt University focus on a relatively rare cancer—appendiceal cancer, which occurs in the appendix—and found that its rates are also rising, especially among millennials.
Andreana Holowatyji, assistant professor of hematology and oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and her colleagues analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, a cancer registry that includes patients from 1975 to 2019. The scope of the dataset allowed them to look for generational differences in cancer rates. They specifically tracked appendix cancer, which for many years was misclassified as colorectal cancer since the appendix sits at the start of the large intestine.
Recent studies have shown an increase in colorectal cancers among those under 50, and Holowatyji wanted to learn if the same trend was occurring for appendix cancer. 'We don't know what the risk factors are for appendix cancer, and seeing whether there are generational effects could help us to continue to put the pieces together of this complex puzzle,' she says.
Read More: The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer
In their analysis, which involved more than 4,800 people diagnosed with appendix cancer, rates of the cancer tripled among those born in 1980—and quadrupled among those born in 1985—compared to people born in 1945. Rates increased in every birth cohort after 1945. In that time, rates of appendectomies remained about the same, which the researchers say largely rules out the possibility that more cases were detected from appendectomies performed.
It's likely not a single factor but the interaction of several that contributes to an increased cancer risk in this age group, such as rising rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome as well as environmental exposures, Holowatyji says. 'The challenging thing now is to disentangle not only what these exposures are, but what molecular changes these exposures cause, and what the consequences of those changes are on our cells that may end up increasing the risk of carcinogenesis,' she says.
Much more data is needed to better understand appendiceal cancer, and that starts with greater awareness and better diagnosis. Because it's rarer than colorectal cancer, Holowatyji says health care professionals and the public should be more attuned to potential symptoms and not ignore or dismiss them. These can include general complaints like bloating, changes in bowel movements, and loss of appetite. If they persist, people should see their doctor.
Half of appendix cancers are diagnosed after it has already spread, so being more vigilant and intervening early could lead to better outcomes. 'While rare, appendix cancer is rising,' she says. 'Individuals know their bodies best, and if they experience any changes or symptoms, those aren't things they should overlook."
Contact us at letters@time.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
June's Strawberry Moon ushers in best time of year to view our celestial neighbor
Known as the Strawberry Moon, the last full Moon of spring rises early Wednesday, beginning the best time of year to enjoy our celestial neighbor. Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell, a postdoctoral fellow at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, said this is the first Moon to appear this low on the horizon in about a year. June's full Moon is the last of astronomical spring, even though if you ask a meteorologist, summer is already in full swing. 'The Moon going across the night sky is always going to be a little lower because, in the summertime into the summer, the Sun goes higher and higher in the sky just because of our orbit. And so the Moon, being completely opposite of that, gets lower and lower,' she said. The Strawberry Moon gets its name from the time when the berry is ready for picking, but it also corresponds with the slight hue as the Moon is lower in the sky. 'When it spends more of that time in that lower portion of the sky, you're looking through more of Earth's atmosphere, which makes these moons generally look redder and more golden. And also, they appear bigger,' Richey-Yowell said. 'The atmosphere actually bends some of the light. And so while there's not really any astronomical significance to moons in the summer, we do actually get cooler, bigger, prettier moons in the summer.' 3 People posing in front of the 'Strawberry Moon over the New York City skyline on June 21, 2024. Photo byFor some in the northern tier and Southeast, the Strawberry Moon may be especially colorful this year. Saharan dust arriving to Florida and crawling up the Southeast coast can also scatter light in a way that creates vibrant sunrises and sunsets, as well as a tint to the Moon. In the North, wildfire smoke from Canada has reduced air quality but also had the same effect on the sky color. 3 The next Strawberry Moon will rise on Wednesday. Getty Images How to photograph the Strawberry Moon Richey-Yowell said the best time to enjoy the Moon throughout the summer is right after sunset, when the Moon is peeking up over the horizon. During this time, the Moon can appear to have a reddish tint. For the Strawberry Moon on Wednesday, it will be at its biggest and brightest after midnight (Pacific time) and after 3 a.m. (Eastern time). 3 The 2024 Strawberry Moon seen over the Statue of Liberty. Photo by'If you're a night person, that would be the time to go up and see it,' she said. With an earlier time of day to see the Moon in late spring and this summer, it's a good chance to practice photographing our only satellite. If you plan to use a smartphone or camera, Richey-Yowell recommends finding something to stabilize your device. 'Turning down the saturation on your phone is typically what I do. The Moon's actually just really good for holding up to a telescope as well,' she said. 'They also make some really nice like phone holders that you can attach to your own personal telescope.' The Strawberry Moon will make good practice for next month. The full Buck Moon appears at its fullest just after 4 p.m. ET on July 11, which will make for a spectacular sunset and Moon.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Appendix cancers on the rise in younger generations, study finds
Although they are very rare, cancers of the appendix are on the rise, a new study finds. An analysis of a National Cancer Institute database found that compared with older generations, rates of appendix cancer have tripled among Gen X and quadrupled among millennials, according to the report, published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 'There is a disproportionate burden of appendix cancer among young individuals,' said the study's lead author, Andreana Holowatyj, an assistant professor of hematology and oncology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. Holowatyj's earlier research was 'the first to show that 1 in every 3 appendix cancers is diagnosed among adults younger than age 50,' she said in a phone interview. 'That's compared to 1 in every 8 colorectal cancers diagnosed among adults younger than age 50.' Still, appendix cancers are extremely rare: According to the National Cancer Institute, they occur at a rate of 1 to 2 per million people in the United States a year. To see whether rates of the cancer had changed over time, Holowatyj turned to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, which includes data from nationally representative cancer registries that cover about 45.9% of the U.S. population. Overall, there were 4,858 cases of appendix cancer from 1975 through 2019. When the large proportion of patients diagnosed between ages 18 and 49 is combined with the new finding of a generational rise in Gen X and millennials, it's 'important that we find the causes underpinning these statistics in order to reverse this trend and reduce the disease burden,' Holowatyj said. The new study further confirms that there is a trend toward younger and younger patients from recent generations being hit with gastrointestinal cancers, said Dr. Andrea Cercek, a medical oncologist and a co-director of the Center for Early Onset Colorectal and GI Cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. In particular, rates of colorectal cancer in younger adults have been rising for several decades. The cause for the rise in such GI cancers needs more research. 'It's likely that there are environmental causes, which include exposures to food, water and micro plastics or lifestyle or dietary changes,' said Cercek, who wasn't involved with the new research. 'You can't really pin it down to one thing or another. It's likely multiple factors causing this rise after 1945.' The appendix is a small pouch that hangs off the large intestine on the lower right side of the abdomen. A blockage can lead to infection and inflammation, called appendicitis, which needs emergency treatment. Unlike other cancers of the GI tract, appendix cancers aren't easily found because they're not as easy to see on abdominal scans and won't be picked up by colonoscopies, said Dr. Deborah Doroshow, an associate professor of medicine at the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. 'So it's not easy to detect or screen for them.' In fact, Holowatyj said, about 95% of appendix cancers aren't spotted until after a person has appendicitis and the appendix is removed and examined by pathologists. As a result, the cancers tend to be at a late stage with poorer long-term prognoses, she added. Doroshow, who wasn't involved with the new study, said it's important for patients and their doctors to be more aware of subtle symptoms. Symptoms such as changes in energy level, a new persistent pain or unexplained weight loss in a young person shouldn't be ignored, she said. 'If a person is feeling that something is not right it's always best to get an opinion,' Doroshow said. 'We've diagnosed young people with cancer whom other health care providers had not taken seriously because they were young.' Women and people of color may find they need to advocate for themselves, she added. Doroshow said people shouldn't be worrying about every single abdominal pain. Rather, it's persistent pain that would be a concern. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Appendix Cancer Has Quadrupled in Millennials
Credit - Science Photo Library—Getty Images Cancer is generally a disease of old age. But researchers are increasingly finding that certain types—including colon, breast, stomach, and pancreatic cancers—are hitting people younger than 50 far more commonly than they used to. In a new report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers at Vanderbilt University focus on a relatively rare cancer—appendiceal cancer, which occurs in the appendix—and found that its rates are also rising, especially among millennials. Andreana Holowatyji, assistant professor of hematology and oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and her colleagues analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, a cancer registry that includes patients from 1975 to 2019. The scope of the dataset allowed them to look for generational differences in cancer rates. They specifically tracked appendix cancer, which for many years was misclassified as colorectal cancer since the appendix sits at the start of the large intestine. Recent studies have shown an increase in colorectal cancers among those under 50, and Holowatyji wanted to learn if the same trend was occurring for appendix cancer. 'We don't know what the risk factors are for appendix cancer, and seeing whether there are generational effects could help us to continue to put the pieces together of this complex puzzle,' she says. Read More: The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer In their analysis, which involved more than 4,800 people diagnosed with appendix cancer, rates of the cancer tripled among those born in 1980—and quadrupled among those born in 1985—compared to people born in 1945. Rates increased in every birth cohort after 1945. In that time, rates of appendectomies remained about the same, which the researchers say largely rules out the possibility that more cases were detected from appendectomies performed. It's likely not a single factor but the interaction of several that contributes to an increased cancer risk in this age group, such as rising rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome as well as environmental exposures, Holowatyji says. 'The challenging thing now is to disentangle not only what these exposures are, but what molecular changes these exposures cause, and what the consequences of those changes are on our cells that may end up increasing the risk of carcinogenesis,' she says. Much more data is needed to better understand appendiceal cancer, and that starts with greater awareness and better diagnosis. Because it's rarer than colorectal cancer, Holowatyji says health care professionals and the public should be more attuned to potential symptoms and not ignore or dismiss them. These can include general complaints like bloating, changes in bowel movements, and loss of appetite. If they persist, people should see their doctor. Half of appendix cancers are diagnosed after it has already spread, so being more vigilant and intervening early could lead to better outcomes. 'While rare, appendix cancer is rising,' she says. 'Individuals know their bodies best, and if they experience any changes or symptoms, those aren't things they should overlook." Contact us at letters@
