Appendix cancer once had a reputation as one of the rarest forms of cancer.
Many were unaware of the condition entirely. And when doctors did encounter it, it was almost exclusively in older people… until now.
The number of appendix cancer cases has increased dramatically – but especially among people born after the 1970s, as documented in a recent study.
The worrying findings noted that one in three cases of appendix cancer now occurs in adults who are under the age of 50.
But even though the participants were US-based, these latest results were not surprising to Australian Associate Professor, Kate Mahon, who specialises in appendiceal cancer.
Professor Mahon, the Director of Medical Oncology at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA in Sydney, told Daily Mail she has observed more and more younger people contracting appendix cancer Down Under too.
‘This new study has shown that out of all cancers, the rates of gastrointestinal cancers are going up fastest,’ Professor Mahon explained.
‘And in cancers affecting people under 50, appendix cancer is the fastest rising.’
The number of appendix cancer cases has increased dramatically. Melbourne teacher Kathryn Berecic (pictured) was diagnosed with appendix cancer at the age of 31. The news came as a complete shock as she was always ‘fit and healthy’
‘This is something we are already seeing in clinic. We’re seeing younger and younger people presenting with what used to be a much rarer cancer.
‘And it’s not just people in their 40s, but really young patients in their 20s.’
THE REASON BEHIND THE RISE OF APPENDIX CANCER
Naturally, the question everyone wants to know is why?
Unfortunately, the professor says we’re currently far from pinpointing the precise reason, because it is still a ‘rarer’ form of cancer.
However, because bowel cancer is also on the rise in young people – and is more prevalent than appendix cancer – Professor Mahon says some of the findings around the cause of bowel cancer offer useful ‘clues’ to understand appendix cancer.
‘My gut feeling is that for appendix cancer, it has to do with the microbiome and the bugs in the bowel and the appendix,’ she theorised.
The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine – with its exact purpose in the body still not entirely clear. This uncertainty only adds to the mystery of what specifically may result in cancer in this area.
Associate Professor Kate Mahon, Director of Medical Oncology at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA, told Daily Mail there’s been a noticeable rise in appendix cancer being diagnosed among younger patients
‘Although we still don’t clearly know what the purpose of the appendix is, there is a suggestion that it’s like a repository of bugs for our microbiome, of our gut,’ she said.
‘It’s like a little, a little storage of gut bugs, where they sit and wait before they populate the bowel.
‘So it wouldn’t surprise me if [the cause of appendix cancers] is going to be related to some imbalance of the gut bugs, and having the wrong ones in there, which may come back to diet.’
The professor added that other potential contributors being considered are excessive intake of seed oils in processed foods, antibiotics in processed foods and even consumption of microplastics.
‘These are all things that researchers are going to be looking into more seriously as the numbers rise,’ she said.
A growing thread: Appendix cancer in Australia at a glance
– Appendix cancer occurs when cells in the appendix become abnormal and continue to grow, forming a tumour
– The causes are unknown, and there are no clear risk factors – it also does not appear to run in families. Increasing age, however, may raise the risk of developing appendix cancer
– It’s a rare condition, with the most common types occurring in Australians aged between 40 and 60
– In 2024, an estimated 874 people were diagnosed with appendiceal cancer
– There is currently no screening available for appendix cancer in Australia
– Appendix cancer is often discovered during abdominal surgery for a different condition or after surgical removal of the appendix due to a suspected case of appendicitis
Appendix cancer occurs when cells in the appendix become abnormal and continue to grow, forming a tumour
<!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/femail/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Advertisement
DIAGNOSING APPENDIX CANCER EARLY
Being a rare form of cancer means there isn’t a screening program or standard test to diagnose appendix cancer.
In fact, the expert noted that the most common instance of appendix cancer being caught early is when it’s mistaken for appendicitis. In those instances, the cancer is usually only diagnosed upon post-examination of the removed appendix.
‘Unfortunately for the majority of patients, appendix cancer is only detected once it has spread into the abdominal cavity,’ the professor said.
This is precisely what happened to Australian woman Kathryn Berecic, who previously spoke to Daily Mail.
The Melbourne teacher was 31 years old when she went into hospital in 2021 for what she thought was routine appendix removal surgery.
But this operation quickly led to the discovery that she had widespread stage four appendix cancer.
Kathryn received the devastating diagnosis in 2021 and has since undergone numerous surgeries and treatments for her stage 4 appendix cancer
Professor Mahon explains that unbeknownst to the patient, appendix cancer proliferates inside the tube and fills ‘up like a balloon’.
‘And then it bursts out the bottom, and spreads throughout the abdominal cavity,’ Professor Mahon explained.
‘Once it’s done that, it spreads around really easily, all the way up to the liver, above the spleen, and all through the abdomen.
By this point, the prognosis is often that the cancer is ‘not curable’.
Professor Mahon works out of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, which is one of a handful of centres in Australia that offers peritonectomy surgery to treat a cancer in this abdominal region.
‘Beyond that big operation, we give chemo to slow it down and control it for a while,’ she said.
‘But ultimately it’s not curable, and ultimately people do die from it.’
THE SUBTLE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF APPENDIX CANCER
Although appendix cancer is difficult to detect, Professor Mahon says there are some acute symptoms to watch for, such as bloating and unexplained weight gain.
Signs and symptoms of appendix cancer
Appendix cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages. However, some people may experience symptoms such as:
appendicitis (lower right abdominal pain)gradual increase in waist sizebuild-up of fluid in the abdomenbloating changes in bowel habitsherniaovarian mass or lump
Source: Cancer Council
<!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/femail/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_2 – ->
Advertisement
Bowel blockages are also common, and it can be accompanied by discomfort in the stomach and even vomiting.
Professor Mahon encourages anyone with these type of symptoms to see their doctor and request a CT scan for closer examination of the appendix.
‘Doctors are far less dismissive of these things in young people after the recent rise in gastrointestinal cancers among young people,’ she said.
PREVENTATIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO MAKE NOW
Although the specific causes of appendix cancer remain unknown, the expert says there are lifestyle adjustments regarded as broadly beneficial for preventing a range of cancers.
‘Eat a good balanced diet with lots of whole foods that are high in fibre, and less processed food,’ she suggests.
‘I also think prebiotics and probiotics are important – so try eating things that have cultures and have good bugs in them.
‘And then there’s exercise. We have good evidence now about the risk of recurrence of bowel cancer being reduced by exercise,’ she says, adding that the goal should be a mixture of weights and strength exercises that ‘really get your heart rate up’.
How a fit 38-year-old discovered he had appendix cancer discovery
Wylie Dixon was newly married and excited for his future when the ‘fit and healthy’ retail manager received devastating news that he had an aggressive form of appendix cancer.
The then 38-year-old had been struggling with months of fatigue, but doctors dismissed the ‘vague’ symptom so he assumed there was nothing to worry about.
It wasn’t until he began experiencing excruciating stomach pains and vomiting that he was rushed to the emergency room – where he learned he had stage four cancer.
‘I was heartbroken,’ Wylie, now 39, told FEMAIL.
‘I was in disbelief as I’d never heard of the cancer before… I wasn’t someone who had scheduled health check-ups but I went to the doctor often when something would arise.
By the time he was diagnosed in August 2024, Wylie was told he may have just three months to live – completely turning his world upside down.
He explained that he just can’t fathom how his condition turned into such an extremely rare case, especially since there were no alarming symptoms before his appendix cancer diagnosis.
‘I didn’t have any major symptoms besides fatigue. That’s the problem with this cancer, everything was vague and didn’t persist, besides the fatigue,’ he said.
Wylie Dixon received devastating news that he had an aggressive form of appendix cancer
The treatment plan saw Wylie undergo a 19-hour peritonectomy surgery, a highly invasive surgical procedure to remove the cancerous tumours from his body.
Since then, he has been enduring intense rounds of chemotherapy.
‘It’s been a very long recovery from the operation, I’m still going eight months on he said in August 2025. It’s very much a watch and wait game at the moment,’ he explained.
Despite getting the all-clear, his cancer has returned, and he’s now looking into travelling to Japan or Germany for new treatment options.
‘The likelihood of recurrence is very high,’ he explained.
With both Wylie and his wife unable to work, the rising cost of flights, temporary accommodation, medications, ongoing treatment, and countless specialist appointments have become overwhelming.
‘The stress of mounting bills threatens to overshadow the one thing that matters most: Wylie’s recovery,’ his cousin Ashleigh said on his GoFundMe page.
‘We are asking for your help. Your donation, no matter the size, will help lift some of this burden – giving Wylie the chance to focus on healing without the added weight of financial stress. It will help ensure he can continue receiving the lifesaving care.
But his world came to a halt when the ‘fit and healthy’ retail manager received devastating news that he was living with an aggressive form of appendix cancer
‘Please consider supporting Wylie during this incredibly difficult chapter. Every dollar and every message of encouragement means more than you can imagine.’
By sharing his story, Wylie hopes to encourage young people to push for more answers if their symptoms are overlooked simply because they’re considered ‘too young to have cancer’.
‘I just hope there’s more awareness of appendix cancer because there is no real screening process for it,’ Wylie said.
GPs shouldn’t dismiss symptoms just because someone is young,’ Wylie said.
‘We’re now seeing cancer rates in younger people go through the roof.’
<!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/femail/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_3 – ->
Advertisement