Appendix Cancer Rates Surge Among Millennials, Rising Faster Than Colon Cancer

A new study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University reports that appendiceal cancer—also known as appendix cancer—is increasing sharply among Americans under 50, particularly Millennials.

The findings, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, point to a faster rise in appendix cancer among younger generations than even the already concerning trend of early-onset colon cancer.

Colon cancer rates are rising in young adults.

• Rates have doubled among people under 40 since the 1990s
• 1 in 5 new cases are now under 55
• Most cases are diagnosed late, often with no symptoms

Colon Cancer is no longer an “old person’s disease.” pic.twitter.com/iItCDZZniB

— Peak Labs (@PeakLab_) June 9, 2025

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

The study analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and found that Millennials, defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, face up to a seven-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with appendix cancer compared to people born between 1941 and 1950.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

That risk is significantly higher than for any other age group included in the study.

The research team reviewed data on 4,858 patients diagnosed with appendiceal cancer between 1975 and 2019.

Birth cohorts were used to examine generational risk patterns, and incidence rates were adjusted for age to ensure consistent comparisons across groups.

Generation X, defined as those born between 1965 and 1980, showed an up to two-fold increased risk of developing appendix cancer.

Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, had up to a 118% increased risk. In contrast, individuals from the Greatest Generation, born between 1901 and 1927, had an up to 80% lower risk.

The study noted that while appendix cancer remains rare—affecting about 3,000 people annually in the United States—the rate of increase among younger adults is prompting concern.

The cause of this rise is not fully understood, though researchers suggested the trends may be linked to newer environmental exposures not present in previous generations.

“A birth cohort effect corresponds to population shifts in environmental exposures that may increase risk for generations now entering mid-adulthood,” the researchers wrote.

They added that the trends may also be driven by an increasing understanding that appendix cancers are biologically distinct from colorectal cancers.

Known risk factors that apply to colon and rectal cancers—such as early-life environmental exposures, diet, obesity, alcohol and tobacco use, and lifestyle choices—may also be contributing to the rise in appendix cancer, in combination with genetic factors.

The appendix is a small pouch attached to the colon, and while its function remains unclear, researchers believe it may play a role in immune response.

Cancer in this organ typically presents with symptoms such as bloating and abdominal pain, often mistaken for more common digestive issues.

Appendix cancer is frequently diagnosed only after the appendix is removed for suspected appendicitis.

If caught early, the five-year survival rate ranges between 67% and 97%, according to data referenced in the study. However, survival rates decline when the cancer is not detected until it has spread.

The disease made headlines earlier this year following the death of actor Adan Canto, who passed away from appendiceal cancer at age 42.

Other patients have publicly shared their stories, including Rebecca Hind, a 39-year-old from Cumbria, United Kingdom.

Hind was diagnosed at age 33 after experiencing prolonged stomach pain following a work event. Doctors initially suspected food poisoning, but eventually diagnosed her with appendix cancer.

Since then, Hind has undergone multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and medically induced menopause as part of her treatment.

🔴 ‘I’ve just got to try to get on with life,’ says Rebecca Hind, 39, who has a one-in-a-million cancer that is killing her

Read more below 👇https://t.co/zt550kaW6z pic.twitter.com/7AIA4FbSra

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 23, 2025

The increase in appendix cancer cases among adults aged 30 to 34 rose by 71% from 2000 to 2020. In the broader 20 to 39 age group, incidence rates have been rising by about 2% annually.

While U.S. data is more limited for early-onset appendix cancer, researchers noted similar upward trends in early-onset colon cancer in Europe.

Between 2005 and 2016, colon cancer cases increased 8% annually in adults aged 20 to 29, 5% annually among those aged 30 to 39, and 2% annually among those aged 40 to 49.

Researchers are continuing to examine potential causes for the rise in appendix cancer, as they seek to understand whether environmental, lifestyle, or genetic changes are driving the trend.

Connect with Vetted Off-Duty Cops to Instantly Fulfill Your Security Needs