If you have been diagnosed with appendix cancer, it is vital to seek a second opinion from an experienced physician who has seen and treated numerous cases of the disease.
A recent study in JAMA Oncology revealed that around 10% of individuals diagnosed with appendiceal cancer have an inherited genetic variant that increases their risk for cancer predisposition. This is the first study to identify inherited risk factors for this uncommon type of cancer.
The treatment and curability of cancer of the appendix depends on various factors such as the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, and the overall health of the patient.
Diagnosing appendix cancer can be difficult due to the lack of effective screening tests and the general nature of the symptoms.
The exact cause of appendix cancer is not yet known, and no avoidable risk factors have been identified so far.
Oh, there’s an issue with your appendix. We’ll need to get another surgeon across to remove your appendix. There seems to be a tumour-like growth on your appendix and there is mucous leaking around your abdomen.”
This is a great opportunity to gain experience in a very small charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones.
For me, it all started with blood in my urine and an increase in the size of my stomach. In retrospect, I could feel the mucin moving when I walked. Now I’m on ‘watch and wait’.
After my ruptured appendix was removed, the surgeon said the operation “took a little longer, it was messy in there.” For the follow-up, he called me in earlier to give me the bad news.
Before I was diagnosed, I experienced increased abdominal size and piercing pain which was diagnosed initially with an inflamed appendix. It took about four months and another doctor for me to get the correct diagnosis at the end of January 2014.
Looking back, I think we were trying to protect our children from the reality of the disease. Initially, when we discussed my diagnosis, we used terms like death, dying, chemo and cancer. We thought we spun this into a very positive approach, but our “method” may have given our children a confusing and unrealistic message about survival instead.