These are the symptoms of appendix cancer: it affects young people more and is difficult to diagnose.

Appendix cancer has increased by up to 80% in the last three decades, according to data from an extensive study. But the most surprising aspect is that this type of disease is appearing in the population under 50 years of age, with no clear cause to date . The appearance of cancer cells in the appendix, the small pouch of tissue located in the intestine with an unknown function , is very rare, but warning signs have been raised in response to the new incidence, which is also occurring in other intestinal cancers such as colon cancer.

How appendix cancer manifests: first symptoms

As previously mentioned, the appendix is a small sac of tissue located in the lower right side of the abdomen. To date, no real function has been established, although it is theorized that its presence in the intestine may aid the immune system and nutrient absorption . One of the biggest problems experienced by people with this small sac is the so-called appendicitis . It becomes inflamed due to obstruction, causing intense pain. This means it must be removed, as there is a risk of rupture, which could seriously impact the patient's health.

Now, appendix cancer is also becoming a headache for doctors. According to the National Cancer Institute, this disease can present in two types: epithelial cancer and neuroendocrine cancer.

Appendix cancer can be asymptomatic in its early stages , but there are warning signs to watch out for . These symptoms include pain in the area, a feeling of bloating or swelling in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, a lump in the abdomen, and a feeling of fullness immediately after eating. It can also sometimes cause hernias, pelvic pain, and ovarian masses in women, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid.

Diagnostic imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans, biopsies , diagnostic laparoscopy, and laboratory tests such as blood protein concentration tests are the tests used to detect appendix cancer.

Is it hereditary? What is the treatment?

It is currently unknown whether appendix cancer can be hereditary , as is hereditary colorectal cancer . Treatment is limited to two approaches.

On the one hand, surgery is used , with the most common being the removal of the appendix. However, if cancer cells have also affected other parts of the body, potential malignancy in parts of the intestine, colon, and peritoneum can be removed.

On the other hand, chemotherapy is a procedure more commonly used if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute , medical teams sometimes use hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC , which "involves using hot chemicals to wash the inside of the abdomen during surgery."