Rare cancer diagnoses surge dramatically among millennials and Gen X
Diagnoses of appendix cancer have tripled in the U.S. for people born between 1976 and 1984 — and it has quadrupled for those born between 1981 and 1989.
The study was published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Common Menopause Medication Might Prevent Breast Cancer While Treating Hot Flashes
Researchers from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program to arrive at these findings.
"When you take these alarming rates that we are seeing for appendiceal cancer across generations, together with the fact that one in every three patients diagnosed with appendiceal cancer is diagnosed under the age of 50, these point to a timely need for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of appendix cancer," said lead author Andreana Holowatyj, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, in a press release from the university.
Read On The Fox News App
Fda Approves First Ai Tool To Predict Breast Cancer Risk
Cancer of the appendix is rare, affecting only about one or two people per million each year in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Even so, doctors emphasize the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms emerge.
"Ruling out the possibility of an appendix cancer diagnosis, or diagnosing it early, is important for this cancer as we continue to learn what factors may be contributing to this worrisome trend," Holowatyj said.
Appendiceal cancer forms in the appendix, which is a small organ located in the lower right abdomen.
There are two main types: epithelial appendiceal cancer, which involves the cells of the lining of the appendix, and neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer, which results from the growth of neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumors of the appendix, the NCI states.
In early stages of the disease, most people do not notice symptoms.
As the cancer progresses, common symptoms include pain, a bloated feeling, a mass in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and sudden feelings of fullness while eating, according to the above source.
Common treatments for this type of cancer include surgery to remove the appendix and any other affected organs, as well as chemotherapy to kill any metastasized cancer cells.
Based on the study findings, the researchers are calling for increased awareness among both the public and the medical community.
Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter
"As incidence rates in younger generations are often indicative of future disease burden, these results support the need for histology-specific investigations of appendiceal adenocarcinoma, as well as increased education and awareness of appendiceal adenocarcinomas among healthcare providers and the public," the study stated.
There are no standard screening guidelines or risk factors for appendix cancer, which means up to half of diagnoses occur after the disease has already spread, according to the researchers.
Five-year survival rates for appendix cancer range from 10% to 63%.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The new study received funding from the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (ACPMP) Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.Original article source: Rare cancer diagnoses surge dramatically among millennials and Gen X
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
3 days ago
- Medscape
Letter of Interest Tips for Residency Applicants
This transcript has been edited for clarity. What is a letter of interest? This is arguably the most important letter you are going to send when you are a medical student applying for a residency program in The Match. The letter of interest is one letter that you are going to be sending out to your top program. After you've interviewed at all of your different programs, you are going to rank onenumber one, and you are going to send a letter of interest. Mine was about five paragraphs, where I talked about all of the reasons why I thought I was a good fit at their program and why their program was a good fit for my life. Then, you send the letter of interest to that one program. It is crucial that you are only sending a letter of interest to one place because you are telling them that you're ranking them number one, and that you promise to do looks very bad if you end up sending a letter of interest to more than one program or if you send a letter of interest and end up not ranking them number one. It is a really important decision that you should think long and hard about, but it can really be a great strategy to let them know that you are really serious about going to that program.
National Geographic
5 days ago
- National Geographic
Appendix cancer is rare—but it has quadrupled in millennials
The appendix is a small organ attached to the large intestine on the right side of the abdomen. People are getting cancer younger, and the incidence of appendix cancer has quadrupled among millennials. Photograph by Vladimir Vladimirov, Getty Images Experts are still trying to pinpoint what's driving a rise in new cases among young adults. "We're just at the tip of the iceberg for this disease." Most people only ever think about their appendix if it needs to be removed. But a worrying new trend is rewriting this narrative, as appendix cancer is on the rise in younger generations. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June found the rates of the disease has tripled among Gen X and quadrupled among millennials compared to people who were born in the 1940s. For the study, researchers looked at a large database called the National Cancer Institute's SEER Program, which collects cancer data from various registries across the U.S. They created 21 overlapping "birth cohorts," or groups of people born within a certain eight-year span. These groups started with people born between 1891 and 1899 and went all the way up to people born between 1991 and 1999. (Colon cancer is rising in young people. Finally, scientists have a clue about why.) The results? More than 4,800 people ages 20 and older were diagnosed with appendix cancer between 1975 and 2019. The incidence rate of appendix cancer for those born in 1980 was 3.41 times higher than those born in 1945. And the incidence rate of appendix cancer for those born in 1985 was 4.62 times higher than those born in 1945. It's important to note that in the grand scheme of things, appendix cancer is rare. 'We estimate about 3,000 new cases of appendix cancer are diagnosed every year,' says study author Andreana Holowatyj, assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For comparison, the National Cancer Institute estimates there will be nearly 320,000 new cases of breast cancer—the most common type of cancer in the U.S.—in 2025. But one thing is clear: 'We're just at the tip of the iceberg for this disease,' Holowatyj says. 'We're working to begin to unpack [the risk factors] because these rising trends will be important to understanding what's driving the increase in this disease.' Why appendix cancer is on the rise in younger generations Appendiceal cancer occurs when the cells in your appendix—a little appendage that hangs off your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen—mutate and grow uncontrollably, resulting in a tumor. When appendix cancer is localized to the appendix it is easier to cure compared to when it spreads to other organs, says Christopher G. Cann, assistant professor with a focus on gastrointestinal cancers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Doctors and researchers are still trying to pinpoint why the rates of appendix cancer are increasing in people under 50. But the stats are consistent with other gastrointestinal cancers, like colon cancer and rectal cancer, according to Cann. 'The big question here is what has changed across generations?' Holowatyj says. She points out that one change has been an increase in processed and ultra-processed foods. These contain food additives and pollutants, which studies suggest may cause chronic inflammation. As a 2024 study published in Gut found, chronic inflammation plays a key role in the growth and progression of colorectal cancer. (How ultra-processed food harms the body and brain.) Cann's theory is similar: The incidence of appendix cancer may be the result of cumulative exposure to environmental factors, such as microplastics and ultra-processed foods, over the course of someone's lifetime—from in utero all the way up until diagnosis. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise, may contribute as well, he says. Laura A. Lambert, professor of surgery and director of the Peritoneal Malignancy Program at the University of Utah, who specializes in appendiceal cancer, speculates the cause is linked to the gut microbiome—the bacteria that live in our intestines and are part of our normal digestive system. 'We do think [the appendix] might function as a reservoir for healthy bacteria,' she says. The theory is that appendix cancer may occur when those good bacteria are somehow replaced by bad bacteria. Lambert suspects the same environmental and lifestyle factors Cann highlighted could be responsible for those gut microbiome changes. 'But nobody's actually figured that out to be able to put them all together and see if there's a common denominator,' Lambert says. The problem with screening for appendix cancer It's recommended to begin screening for colorectal cancer with a colonoscopy at age 45, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while mammograms to screen for breast cancer should start at age 40. By contrast, there are no screenings for appendiceal cancer for anyone of any age, according to both Holowatyj and Lambert. '[A] disease has to be of a certain prevalence within the population to make it worthwhile,' Lambert says. 'There's no cheap way of screening for [appendix cancer]. CT scans don't have enough high sensitivity and specificity. When you do a colonoscopy, you don't actually see into the appendix.' Not to mention, she adds, tumor markers—substances in your blood or urine (often proteins) that appear in higher amounts when cancer is present—are not reliable enough, and the incidence is so low that there's 'no way that the government would support screening for this disease.' (When should you get screened for breast cancer—and how often?) Without screening, Lambert says, appendix cancer doesn't really let you know it's there until you have symptoms. And even then it may be difficult to diagnose. In fact, most people find out they have appendix cancer after getting an appendectomy, when their appendix is removed and examined under a microscope, Holowatyj says. But this isn't just a case of finding more appendix cancer because we're removing more appendixes. Holowatyj cites a study published in Cancer that shows the rates of appendectomies have actually remained stable over the years, which she says makes the rising rates of appendix cancer 'even more alarming.' Why symptoms are so confusing Common signs of appendix cancer include stomach pain, feeling bloated, nausea and vomiting, and feeling full soon after starting to eat, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, some of these symptoms could be indicative of other GI issues, like irritable bowel syndrome, for instance. If a younger person complains to their primary care doctor of these symptoms, the odds are low they'll automatically assume appendix cancer—most physicians, if they've ever seen a case of it, might only see one or two in their entire career, Lambert says. By the time the cancer is caught, it may already be in the later stages and harder to treat. 'Awareness needs to increase in physicians,' Cann says. 'If someone is having rectal bleeding, we can't just assume hemorrhoids. If someone is having persistent constipation, we can't just assume it's dietary. Referral to a GI specialist who can do a thorough evaluation is what's needed.' Holowatyj agrees: 'I think it's really important for providers and general practitioners to be mindful of this increase [in appendix cancer cases], particularly in younger patients, and when they see a young patient presenting with these symptoms, work to rule it out,' she says. 'Knowledge and education of this rare disease is a challenge overall.' Experts agree it's going to be difficult to reverse the rising numbers of appendix cancer without identifying a definitive cause. 'I am certainly hopeful that the factors we discover will be ones where effective interventions can decrease appendiceal cancer incidence and begin to reverse these trends—if they were to be lifestyle or environmental factors, for example—but that will be the crucial information to help us understand next steps forward,' Holowatyj says. Until then, Lambert emphasizes the importance of advocating for yourself if you have a family history of appendix cancer or are experiencing unexplained symptoms. 'Reach out to reputable organizations that are dedicated to education, research, and support for this disease, and really advocate for yourself. Don't settle, get to the specialists.'
USA Today
5 days ago
- USA Today
Kelley Mack, 'The Walking Dead' and 'Chicago Med' actress, dies at 33
Kelley Mack, a film producer and actress who appeared in "The Walking Dead" and "Chicago Med," has died. She was 33. Born Kelley Lynne Klebenow, the Chapman University graduate died Aug. 2 in her hometown of Cincinnati following a battle with glioma of the central nervous system. Her agent, Julie Smith, confirmed the news to USA TODAY on Aug. 5. According to the National Cancer Institute, gliomas are groups of tumors formed from abnormal glial cells, which "support and protect the brain's nerve cells" and are found in the brain and spinal cord. They are "the most common type of malignant primary brain tumor in adults," per the NCI. Though Mack also did work on commercials and short films, her biggest roles saw her on screen on Season 8 of "Chicago Med" as Penelope Jacobs. She also played Addy in Season 9 of "The Walking Dead." Mack's sister, Kathryn Klebenow, shared news of her death on her Instagram, writing in the caption that "It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go." She "passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present," per the post. Klebenow added, "As her sister, I want you all to know how brave ... (she) was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I'm so ... proud of her." Previously, Mack's family shared in April that she had completed proton radiation treatment. In a statement shared on Mack's CaringBridge page, Klebenow wrote that her family will be holding "a recognition and remembrance of Kelley's life" in Glendale, Ohio, on Aug. 16, with a celebration of life planned for an unspecified date in Los Angeles.
