August is Appendix Cancer Awareness Month
Most people don’t even think about their Appendices. It is a small pouch like organ that is attached to the large intestine -in the area of right lower abdomen. Which is why problems with the appendix often present as pain or discomfort in the right lower abdomen. The appendix contains lymphoid tissue, which can contribute to immune responses by producing antibodies, and it is also believed to serve as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria, potentially helping to repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria after gastrointestinal infections or disturbances. However, even with these helpful bodily functions, one can easily live without their appedix.
Appendix cancer (also called appendiceal cancer )occurs when the cells in the appendix change and grow out of control. Appendiceal cancer is very rare ~ 1-2 cases in a million people. There are different types of appendix tumors and can be benign or malignant, but perhaps the most common are carcinoid tumors. These are considered slow growing and affect neuroendocrine cells, which receive signals from the nervous system and release hormones (n.d.). Appendix Cancer. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from my.clevelandclinic.org/health/disease
Warning signs of appendix cancer might be: bloating, abdominal pain or radiating pelvic pain, nausea and vomiting, or inflammation or infection of the appendix (appendicitis). A healthcare provider will order testing to discern the reason for one’s symptoms and if deemed cancer will send the individual to an Oncologist who will complete the staging process and form a treatment plan. Treatment options for appendix cancer might include: surgery, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy or chemotherapy or targeted therapy given through the vein.
More detailed information can be found from the National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov and from Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma peritonei Research foundation who are spreading awareness of this cancer and the need for more research! Https.// acpmp.org/appendix-cancer-awareness-month/