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By Tim Morgan New Hampshire What started as a suspected case of appendicitis on Halloween 2024 quickly spiraled into a confusing medical ordeal. When I went for surgery to have my appendix removed, there was a note in MyChart about a "possible malignancy" and removal of the right side of my colon which left me thunderstruck even though the surgeon indicated that it was probably nothing. A week later, I received the words that every patient dreads - "You have cancer." The Se

I have always been a pragmatist, a teacher of English Literature who looked for logic in the narrative arc of a story. But nothing in the great works of fiction could have prepared me for the moment the story became my own—or more accurately, my son’s. My son, “Hunter”, is 43, a gifted cinematographer living in Tulsa. He sees the world through a lens of light and shadow, but in 2023, a shadow fell over us that no camera could filter out. It began with standard abdominal pain

A new study from researchers, led by Dr. John Shen, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is helping doctors better understand how routine follow-up testing may improve care for people living with appendiceal cancer, a rare cancer that begins in the appendix. Researchers found that common blood tests known as tumor markers may help predict how patients respond to treatment and whether their cancer is more likely to return after surgery. The findings reinforce a

By Debbie Carmel California In 2024, at age 64, my world changed overnight. It started on a Tuesday in January with a sharp pain in my lower left abdomen. Like many of us do, I chalked it up to "old age" or maybe diverticulitis. I even felt well enough by that Saturday to go wine tasting with friends. I had no idea that a “watermelon-sized” tumor was growing inside me. By February, a wellness exam led to a CT scan, and by March, I was in surgery. My diagnosis was a moving tar

Xu N, Hasjim B, Rouhi A ... Validation of nomograms predicting survival in patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC for peritoneal dissemination of mucinous appendiceal cancer. Surgical Oncology Insight, 2026; 3 What is this study about? Some rare tumors that start in the appendix can spread inside the abdomen and produce a jelly-like substance. This condition is called pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). The main treatment for PMP is a major surgery called cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combin

By Helene Morris Maryland Before I asked my most pressing question, my surgical oncologist answered it. “Helene,” he said, “This is not your fault. There is nothing you did to cause this cancer.” Three weeks later, I was in an operating room at Mercy Hospital, undergoing the surgery that would extend my life. Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, known simply as CRS with HIPEC. is among the most aggressive treatments used for advanced abdominal

Sardi A, Uzhegova K, Iugai S, et al. Outcomes of cytoreductive surgery in unfavorable appendix cancer histologies: meaningful survival with complete cytoreduction despite high peritoneal cancer index. Presented at: Advanced Cancer Therapies; February 2026; Fort Lauderdale, FL . New Research Offers Hope for Patients with Advanced Appendix Cancer For patients diagnosed with rare and aggressive appendix cancers, treatment decisions can often feel limited—especially when the dis

By Sarah Seitz Baltimore, Maryland In January 2023, I believed I was finally getting my life back. For years, my body had been in open rebellion against me. I lived with extreme abdominal pain, stabbing cramps that dropped me to the floor, fainting spells, overwhelming fatigue, and an inability to eat. I lost forty pounds in just a few months without trying. My periods were excruciating. I missed work, missed time with my family, and made more emergency room visits than I can

By Antonia Dyroff Zurich, Switzerland The Challenge of Diagnosis and Isolation For many, a diagnosis of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) is a life-altering event that changes one's world overnight. Upon discovering a large appendix tumor within the abdomen—a circumstance that seemed unimaginable—I underwent two major surgeries to remove the tumor and to manage the disease. Each operation presented a fierce physical and emotional battle, followed by a recovery process that was bot

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

Vladislav Kovalik, MD, MSPH; Armando Sardi, MD, FACS; Mary Caitlin King, BS; Sergei Iugai, MD; Luis Felipe Falla-Zuniga, MD; Carol Nieroda, MD; and Vadim Gushchin, MD, FACS The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD Presentation Patterns and Treatment Outcomes in Appendix Cancer Patients Traveling to a High-Volume Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Center. Am Surg. 2025 Nov;91(11):1889-1897. doi: 10.1177/00031348251337155. Epub 2025 May 5. PMID: 4032288

Carlos A Munoz-Zuluaga , Mary Caitlin King , Panayotis Ledakis , Vadim Gushchin , Michelle Sittig , Carol Nieroda , Katherine Zambrano-Vera , Armando Sardi Systemic chemotherapy before cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) in patients with high-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei of appendiceal origin . European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2019 Sep;45(9):1598-1606. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31109821/ Summary: Researche

Ekaterina Baron, Armando Sardi, Mary Caitlin King, Andrei Nikiforchin, Felipe Lopez-Ramirez, Carol Nieroda, Vadim Gushchin, Panayotis...

By Linda McLaughlin New Jersey September 2025 A cancer diagnosis hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s one of those things that happens to...

During August we recognized Appendix Cancer Awareness Month to bring more attention to advanced forms of this cancer. In case you missed...

By Rick Sell Allentown, PA August 10, 2024 In early November 2023 I underwent what was supposed to be a routine laparoscopic surgery at...

By Mat Edelson Washington, D.C. August 19, 2025 Hi, I'm Mat. My cancer story is really the story of three people. My mom Claire, my wife...

A physician may use some or all of these methods to treat appendix cancer . ​ 1️⃣ CRS/HIPEC: studies show a significant increase in...

A physician may use some or all of these evaluation methods to diagnose appendix cancer . ​ 1️⃣ Physical exam 2️⃣ Imaging studies: CT...

Signs and symptoms of appendix cancer can be similar to other conditions and are often non-specific . ​ 1️⃣ Appendicitis: Most cases...