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Appendix cancer is extremely rare — so rare that it does not appear in the American Cancer Society’s 2025 cancer statistics report and is listed by the National Institutes of Health under “rare digestive tumors.” Each year, only about 3,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed. However, recent research shows that appendix cancer is becoming more common across all age groups. Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, surgical oncologist and Medical Director of the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology

A recent study by Mercy Medical Center reveals that despite longer delays to treatment and more advanced disease at presentation, out-of-state patients with rare appendix cancers achieve comparable long-term outcomes to local patients when treated at a high-volume specialized center. Key findings from the research, published July 2025 in The American Surgeon, include: Patients traveling from out of state waited an average of 4.6 months from diagnosis to surgery, compared to 2

The National Cancer Institute (NCI)  — the nation’s leading cancer research agency — has a new director. Dr. Anthony Letai officially...

Kristin Logan’s story is nothing short of heartbreaking—and revealing. A healthy mother, veteran, wife, and resident of British Columbia,...

In a HuffPost article  about stage 4 ovarian cancer and 5-year survival, readers are introduced to Susan , a woman diagnosed with stage 4 disease whose journey challenges common expectations. The article uses Susan’s experience as a powerful example of hope and resilience, showing that while statistics are important, they don’t tell every person’s story. Susan and her husband on their wedding day in 2017. What Susan’s Journey Teaches Us A strong reminder that survival curves

When Sonja Walker went to the hospital in 2008 with what she thought was a simple pain in her side, she never imagined she’d leave with a diagnosis that would change her life: a rare and aggressive form of appendix cancer. Doctors told her she likely had just one year to live. But Sonja refused to give up. With the help of a friend, she connected with Dr. Armando Sardi at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore — one of the nation’s leading experts in cytoreductive surgery (CRS) an

Helen Szablya was caught off-guard when she received a diagnosis of a rare appendix cancer variant. Facing confusion, fear, and the unknown, she didn’t simply retreat — she chose to step forward. Helen’s journey became about more than treatment. It became a mission: to raise awareness of how this little-known disease shows up, why delayed diagnosis happens, and how patients like her can advocate for better care. She learned the signs weren’t always dramatic — symptoms like ab