Latest news with #AndreanaHolowatyj
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Health
- Fox News
Rare cancer diagnoses surge dramatically among millennials and Gen X
A rare type of cancer is growing among millennials and members of Generation X, new research shows. 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. 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. 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. Five-year survival rates for appendix cancer range from 10% to 63%. 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. "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 The new study received funding from the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (ACPMP) Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The signs of killer cancer you've NEVER heard of that's rising in young people, from waist size clue to bloating
CANCER is typically thought of as a disease of old age. But doctors are increasingly finding that certain types, particularly bowel cancer, are hitting younger people far more than they used to. 2 Symptoms of appendix cancer include loating and a growing belly or waist size In a new report, published in the An analysis of over 4000 people in the US, found that compared with older generations, rates of the condition, also called appendix cancer, have tripled among Gen X and quadrupled among millennials. 'There is a disproportionate burden of appendix cancer among young individuals,' said the study's lead author, Andreana Holowatyj, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in the US, told The researchers suggest that environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors that intensified after the second-world war may explain the concerning increase in appendix cancer rates. Read more on appendix cancer They point to dietary habits, gut bacteria changes, greater prevalence of conditions inflaming the gastrointestinal tract in particular. 'Similar trends have been reported for other gastrointestinal cancers, suggestive of potential shared cause contributing to this increasing cancer burden across generations,' the study noted. Although the new study, published yesterday, did not include individuals from the UK, a study published in 2022 did, revealing a similar trend. The research, published in Most read in Health There were a total of 949 cases between 1995 and 2001, which jumped to 4132 total cases between 2010 and 2016. Still, appendix cancers are extremely rare. The 4 signs of bowel cancer that mean it's 'too late' - as doctor reveals cause of surge in young people being diagnosed According to the National Cancer Institute, they occur at a rate of 1 to 2 cases per million people annually in the US. Meanwhile, in the UK, where the population is smaller, around 640 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. The appendix is a small pouch of tissue that hangs off the abdomen. It is part of the intestines and bowel, which absorb nutrients and remove waste from the body. Experts do not know what the appendix does, but it may help the immune system. There are two main types of appendiceal cancer: epithelial appendiceal cancer and neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer. The symptoms of appendiceal cancer can vary but may include abdominal pain, bloating, the presence of a lump in the tummy, nausea, and feeling full quickly after eating. 2
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The signs of killer cancer you've NEVER heard of that's rising in young people, from waist size clue to bloating
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CANCER is typically thought of as a disease of old age. But doctors are increasingly finding that certain types, particularly bowel cancer, are hitting younger people far more than they used to. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Symptoms of appendix cancer include loating and a growing belly or waist size In a new report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, scientists have found that appendiceal cancer - a very rare form of the disease - is also on the rise. An analysis of over 4000 people in the US, found that compared with older generations, rates of the condition, also called appendix cancer, have tripled among Gen X and quadrupled among millennials. 'There is a disproportionate burden of appendix cancer among young individuals,' said the study's lead author, Andreana Holowatyj, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in the US, told NBC News. The researchers suggest that environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors that intensified after the second-world war may explain the concerning increase in appendix cancer rates. They point to dietary habits, gut bacteria changes, greater prevalence of conditions inflaming the gastrointestinal tract in particular. 'Similar trends have been reported for other gastrointestinal cancers, suggestive of potential shared cause contributing to this increasing cancer burden across generations,' the study noted. Although the new study, published yesterday, did not include individuals from the UK, a study published in 2022 did, revealing a similar trend. The research, published in BJS Open, showed that cases of the disease in the UK have more than quadrupled in the UK. There were a total of 949 cases between 1995 and 2001, which jumped to 4132 total cases between 2010 and 2016. Still, appendix cancers are extremely rare. The 4 signs of bowel cancer that mean it's 'too late' - as doctor reveals cause of surge in young people being diagnosed According to the National Cancer Institute, they occur at a rate of 1 to 2 cases per million people annually in the US. Meanwhile, in the UK, where the population is smaller, around 640 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. The appendix is a small pouch of tissue that hangs off the abdomen. It is part of the intestines and bowel, which absorb nutrients and remove waste from the body. Experts do not know what the appendix does, but it may help the immune system. There are two main types of appendiceal cancer: epithelial appendiceal cancer and neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer. The symptoms of appendiceal cancer can vary but may include abdominal pain, bloating, the presence of a lump in the tummy, nausea, and feeling full quickly after eating.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
The signs of killer cancer you've NEVER heard of that's rising in young people, from waist size clue to bloating
CANCER is typically thought of as a disease of old age. But doctors are increasingly finding that certain types, particularly bowel cancer, are hitting younger people far more than they used to. 2 In a new report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, scientists have found that appendiceal cancer - a very rare form of the disease - is also on the rise. An analysis of over 4000 people in the US, found that compared with older generations, rates of the condition, also called appendix cancer, have tripled among Gen X and quadrupled among millennials. 'There is a disproportionate burden of appendix cancer among young individuals,' said the study's lead author, Andreana Holowatyj, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in the US, told NBC News. The researchers suggest that environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors that intensified after the second-world war may explain the concerning increase in appendix cancer rates. They point to dietary habits, gut bacteria changes, greater prevalence of conditions inflaming the gastrointestinal tract in particular. 'Similar trends have been reported for other gastrointestinal cancers, suggestive of potential shared cause contributing to this increasing cancer burden across generations,' the study noted. Although the new study, published yesterday, did not include individuals from the UK, a study published in 2022 did, revealing a similar trend. The research, published in BJS Open, showed that cases of the disease in the UK have more than quadrupled in the UK. There were a total of 949 cases between 1995 and 2001, which jumped to 4132 total cases between 2010 and 2016. Still, appendix cancers are extremely rare. The 4 signs of bowel cancer that mean it's 'too late' - as doctor reveals cause of surge in young people being diagnosed According to the National Cancer Institute, they occur at a rate of 1 to 2 cases per million people annually in the US. Meanwhile, in the UK, where the population is smaller, around 640 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. The appendix is a small pouch of tissue that hangs off the abdomen. It is part of the intestines and bowel, which absorb nutrients and remove waste from the body. Experts do not know what the appendix does, but it may help the immune system. There are two main types of appendiceal cancer: epithelial appendiceal cancer and neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer. The symptoms of appendiceal cancer can vary but may include abdominal pain, bloating, the presence of a lump in the tummy, nausea, and feeling full quickly after eating.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- 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
