Appendix Cancer Awareness Month
Appendix Cancer Awareness Month
The need for awareness, support, and mobilization is urgent. It is estimated that 1-2 people per million are diagnosed with appendix cancer each year. Those patients often face delayed diagnoses - including cases that go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed - because symptoms are vague or misunderstood. Treatments like cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC (a procedure to circulate heated chemotherapy directly into the abdomen) can be lifesaving, but only if patients are diagnosed early and referred to specialists who understand their disease.
August is Appendix Cancer Awareness Month! Join us all month long as we share information about Appendix Cancer to increase knowledge about this rare cancer and bring attention to the importance of supporting patients and caregivers on their cancer journey.
Together we can make a difference!
Most people - patients, caregivers, doctors, and hospitals - don’t know enough about abdominal cancers and how to treat them. By joining with the Alliance and supporting these efforts, you are helping to:
Raise awareness so more people can learn about symptoms and take action to get diagnosed sooner
Connect patients, survivors, caregivers, and families to expert care and peer support
Promote research for better treatments and outcomes
Walk beside those affected by this often-overlooked disease
Learn About Appendix Cancer
All month long, we'll be sharing key things to know about appendix cancer and patients and caregivers can do about it. Follow along on our News page to learn more!
Key Resources
Appendix cancer is a malignancy that originates in the appendix, a small organ connected to the beginning of the colon. There are numerous types of appendix cancer, but most cases present as pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), characterized by pools of mucin that can spread throughout the abdominal cavity.
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a highly specialized and advanced procedure. It involves surgically removing all visible tumors, followed by the circulation of heated chemotherapy directly in the abdomen to kill remaining microscopic cancer cells.
Surgery for cancers like appendix cancer is a rapidly evolving field. It is neither possible nor advisable to offer a one-size-fits-all recommendation for every patient. And it is important to find a specialist who understands the patient's diagnosis. By seeking multiple opinions, patients stand to gain perspective, access additional expertise, and increase confidence in their decisions.
Many facilities across the United States and around the world are now performing the CRS/HIPEC procedure, so there may be a high-quality care provider near you. But not all care providers have the same level of expertise. It is important for patients and caregivers to advocate for themselves and evaluate potential care providers!
Managing appendix cancer requires special skill and experience, so it is important to find a specialist who knows how to treat the disease. Specialized treatment like CRS/HIPEC should only be performed by a highly experienced surgical oncologist with expertise in the procedure.
Inspiring Stories from Survivors and Caregivers
Join a Special Peer-to-Peer Campaign!
As someone connected to appendix cancer, you know better than anyone how difficult this journey can be. Your experience and the journey you've taken makes this rare cancer more visible. Your story helps to ground the realities that these patients and caregivers face in a real, lived, human experience.
That’s why your voice is so powerful!
We’re launching this peer-to-peer campaign to raise awareness for appendix cancer and raise funds to fuel our mission - and we’d love to have you join as a member of the campaign team!
Spread the Word from your Easy Chair!
Join us on social media
Engaging on social media is always a great way to get the word out and to reach more people!
Like, Comment, and Share your way to raising awareness and help us multiply our reach. And come join us on our new accounts on Instagram and Twitter!
Official Campaign Hashtags
Join our campaign online and increase visibility by using our official campaign hashtags:
#AppendixCancerAwarenessMonth
#AbdominalCancersAlliance
#TurnAugustAmber
#AmberforAppendixCancer
