{"id":119573,"date":"2025-09-06T23:01:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T23:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/119573\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T23:01:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T23:01:13","slug":"why-has-rare-appendix-cancer-quadrupled-in-millennials-aussie-professors-eye-opening-theory-as-the-dangerous-disease-sweeps-the-globe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/119573\/","title":{"rendered":"Why has rare appendix cancer quadrupled in millennials? Aussie professor’s eye-opening theory as the dangerous disease sweeps the globe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Appendix cancer<\/a>\u00a0once had a reputation as one of the rarest forms of cancer.<\/p>\n

Many were unaware of the condition entirely. And when doctors did encounter it, it was almost exclusively in older people… until now.<\/p>\n

The number of appendix cancer cases has increased dramatically – but especially among people born after the 1970s, as documented in a recent study<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The worrying findings noted that one in three cases of appendix cancer now occurs in adults who are under the age of 50.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Professor Mahon, the Director of Medical Oncology at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA in Sydney<\/a>,\u00a0told Daily Mail she has observed more and more younger people contracting appendix cancer Down Under too.<\/p>\n

‘This new study has shown that out of all cancers, the rates of gastrointestinal cancers are going up fastest,’ Professor Mahon explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘And in cancers affecting people under 50, appendix cancer is the fastest rising.’<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

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’<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

‘And it’s not just people in their 40s, but really young patients in their 20s.’<\/p>\n

THE REASON BEHIND THE RISE OF APPENDIX CANCER<\/p>\n

Naturally, the question everyone wants to know is why?<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the professor says we’re currently far from pinpointing the precise reason, because it is still a ‘rarer’ form of cancer.<\/p>\n

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’\u00a0to understand appendix cancer.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Associate <\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

‘It’s like a little, a little storage of gut bugs, where they sit and wait before they populate the bowel.<\/p>\n

‘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.’<\/p>\n

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\u00a0microplastics.<\/p>\n

‘These are all things that researchers are going to be looking into more seriously as the numbers rise,’ she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A growing thread: Appendix cancer in Australia at a glance\u00a0 <\/p>\n

– Appendix cancer occurs when cells in the appendix become abnormal and continue to grow, forming a tumour<\/p>\n

– 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<\/p>\n

– It’s a rare condition, with the most common types occurring in Australians aged between 40 and 60<\/p>\n

– In 2024, an estimated 874 people were diagnosed with appendiceal cancer<\/p>\n

– There is currently no screening available for appendix cancer in Australia<\/p>\n

– 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<\/p>\n

\"Appendix <\/p>\n

Appendix cancer occurs when cells in the appendix become abnormal and continue to grow, forming a tumour<\/p>\n

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DIAGNOSING APPENDIX CANCER EARLY<\/p>\n

Being a rare form of cancer means there isn’t a screening program or standard test to diagnose appendix cancer.<\/p>\n

In fact, the expert noted that the most common instance of appendix cancer being caught early is when it’s mistaken\u00a0for appendicitis. In those instances, the cancer is usually only diagnosed upon post-examination of the removed appendix.<\/p>\n

‘Unfortunately for the majority of patients, appendix cancer is only detected once it has spread into the abdominal cavity,’ the professor said.<\/p>\n

This is precisely what happened to Australian woman Kathryn Berecic, who previously spoke to Daily Mail.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Melbourne teacher was 31 years old when she went into hospital in 2021 for what she thought was routine appendix removal surgery.<\/p>\n

But this operation quickly led to the discovery that she had widespread stage four appendix cancer.<\/p>\n

\"Kathryn <\/p>\n

Kathryn received the devastating diagnosis in 2021 and has since undergone numerous surgeries and treatments for her stage 4 appendix cancer<\/p>\n

Professor Mahon explains that unbeknownst to the patient, appendix cancer proliferates inside the tube and fills ‘up like a balloon’.<\/p>\n

‘And then it bursts out the bottom, and spreads throughout the abdominal cavity,’ Professor Mahon explained.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

By this point, the prognosis is often that the cancer is ‘not curable’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Beyond that big operation, we give chemo to slow it down and control it for a while,’ she said.<\/p>\n

‘But ultimately it’s not curable, and ultimately people do die from it.’<\/p>\n

THE SUBTLE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF APPENDIX CANCER<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Signs and symptoms of appendix cancer <\/p>\n

Appendix cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages. However, some people may experience symptoms such as:\u00a0<\/p>\n

appendicitis (lower right abdominal pain)gradual increase in waist sizebuild-up of fluid in the abdomenbloating changes in bowel habitsherniaovarian mass or lump<\/p>\n

Source: Cancer Council<\/a><\/p>\n

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Bowel blockages are also common, and it can be accompanied by discomfort in the stomach and even vomiting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Professor Mahon encourages anyone with these type of symptoms to see their doctor and request a CT scan for closer examination of the appendix.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Doctors are far less dismissive of these things in young people after the recent rise in gastrointestinal cancers among young people,’ she said.<\/p>\n

PREVENTATIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO MAKE NOW<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

‘Eat a good balanced diet with lots of whole foods that are high in fibre, and less processed food,’ she suggests.<\/p>\n

‘I also think prebiotics and probiotics are important – so try eating things that have cultures and have good bugs in them.<\/p>\n

‘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’.<\/p>\n

How a fit 38-year-old discovered he had appendix cancer discovery\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

‘I was heartbroken,’ Wylie, now 39, told FEMAIL.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

\"Wylie <\/p>\n

Wylie Dixon received devastating news that he had an aggressive form of appendix cancer<\/p>\n

The treatment plan saw Wylie undergo a 19-hour peritonectomy surgery, a highly invasive surgical procedure to remove the cancerous tumours from his body.<\/p>\n

Since then, he has been enduring intense rounds of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

Despite getting the all-clear, his cancer has returned, and he’s now looking into travelling to Japan or Germany for new treatment options.<\/p>\n

‘The likelihood of recurrence is very high,’ he explained.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

\"But <\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

‘Please consider supporting Wylie during this incredibly difficult chapter. Every dollar and every message of encouragement means more than you can imagine.’<\/p>\n

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’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘I just hope there’s more awareness of appendix cancer because there is no real screening process for it,’ Wylie said.<\/p>\n

GPs shouldn’t dismiss symptoms just because someone is young,’ Wylie said.<\/p>\n

‘We’re now seeing cancer rates in younger people go through the roof.’<\/p>\n

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