Doctors issue warning about little-known symptoms of rare cancer as diagnoses quadruple in two generations
A new study has showed alarming trends in rate of cancer detection among people in the US.
As technology and science advance we become more aware of the many things that can increase a person’s chance of developing some form of cancer.
However, with that said, researchers have noticed an alarming trend among those who are members of Generation X and Millennials.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week and created a concerning picture in regards to the risk of these two generations developing a specific type of cancer.
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Researchers found that diagnosis of this rare type of cancer has tripled in the US for people born between 1976 and 1984 and it has quadrupled for those born between 1981 and 1989.
Lead author Andreana Holowatyj, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, said that these groups were more frequently being diagnosed with appendix cancer and said it was an important time to highlight this.
She explained: “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.”
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), it's believed that appendiceal cancer affects around one or two people per million each year in the US, making it relatively rare.
The disease forms in the appendix, which is a small organ beneath the lower right abdomen which most only hear of in relation to people having their appendix taken out.
In the earlier stages of the disease, many may not even recognize the symptoms.
According to the NCI, as the cancer progresses some of the common symptoms include:
- Pain
- A bloated feeling
- A mass in the abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sudden feelings of fullness while eating
The study ultimately called for greater awareness of the possibility of developing this type of cancer to help in further research, diagnosis and management.
It added: “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.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Gerrard Kaonga