These are the symptoms of appendix cancer: it is four times more common in the millennial generation.

Appendix cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the appendix. Photo: iStock
The appendix is a small organ that is not essential to human life, since its function is not known with certainty, but it is presumed to contribute to the immune system.
Furthermore, this tubular structure, approximately nine centimeters long, is attached to the large intestine and can be located in the lower right part of the abdomen as another element of the digestive system.
In many cases, there are no symptoms until the cancer has spread. Photo: iStock
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However, there are times when the healthy cells that make up this sac of tissue begin to mutate, causing them to spread uncontrollably until they form a tumor.
According to the National Cancer Institute of the United States, appendix cancer can be epithelial or neuroendocrine. In the former, the disease occurs in the lining of the organ due to the accumulation of mucin.
The second condition is related to enterochromaffin (EC) cells, which are responsible for generating chemicals used in digestion and bowel movements, so this type of diagnosis is usually the most common.
Despite this, this disease has become one of the most deadly among adults of the millennial generation , since according to research from Vanderbilt University, after performing an analysis on 4,800 diagnosed people, it was identified that appendix cancer increased among people born in 1980.
People may experience abdominal discomfort. Photo: iStock
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According to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, people can often present with this condition without showing any warning signs, so it's common for the diagnosis to come after the tumor has spread.
In this regard, the medical center explains that symptoms can vary depending on each patient's body type and can often include appendicitis, abdominal swelling, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, pelvic pain, and even changes in bowel habits.
It's best to seek professional help. Photo: iStock
There are also cases in which those affected experience nausea, vomiting, a feeling of satiety early after starting to eat, or an increase in waist size .
Based on this, experts recommend consulting a professional if you have any suspicions, since the only way to detect cancer early is through an imaging test.
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