A Forgotten Cancer Is Rising in Young People, And Experts Are Puzzled

Appendix cancer is a condition that, until recently, was so rare that most people never gave it a second thought.

For decades, it was the kind of disease that doctors might encounter only once or twice in a career, and it was almost always found in older adults.

But now a surprising and concerning trend is emerging: appendix cancer is being diagnosed more often , and it's increasingly affecting people in their 30s, 40s and even younger. This shift has left many experts puzzled and searching for answers.

The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. Its purpose in the body is still debated , but it's best known for causing appendicitis, a painful inflammation that often requires emergency surgery. What's less well known is that cancer can develop