What is Appendix Cancer Treatment?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Appendix Cancer Treatment?
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the most common types of treatments for appendix cancer.
Appendix cancer is a rare kind of cancer that grows in the appendix. It occurs when the healthy cells turn abnormal and start growing rapidly. These cancerous cells become a tumor or mass inside the appendix. The tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). The appendix is a small pouch-shaped organ, which is a part of the digestive system and is attached to the large intestine and sits in the lower right portion of the stomach.
In this article, we will be talking in detail about appendix cancer and its treatment.
- What are the types of Appendix Cancers?
- What are the causes of Appendix Cancer?
- What are the risk factors of Appendix Cancer?
- What are the symptoms of Appendix Cancer?
- How to diagnose Appendix Cancer?
- What are the various Appendix Cancer Treatments?
- What are the complications of Appendix Cancer Treatments?
- How to prevent Appendix Cancer?
- What is the cost of Appendix Cancer Treatment in India?
What are the types of Appendix Cancers?
The different types of appendix cancer are:
- Neuroendocrine tumor: It is also known as carcinoid tumor. This type of cancer usually starts in the appendix top and is responsible for more than half of the appendix malignancies.
- Mucinous cystadenoma: This is a benign type of tumor that begins in the mucoceles, which are mucus-filled sacs present in the wall of the appendix. It is also known as low-grade mucinous neoplasm.
- Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: This type of cancer also begins in the mucoceles, but is malignant and can spread to the other parts of the body.
- Colonic-type adenocarcinoma: This type of tumor starts at the base of the appendix when it originates in this organ. It can spread to the other parts of the body.
- Goblet cell carcinoma: It is also known as adenoneuroendocrine tumor. It has characteristics similar to adenocarcinoma and a neuroendocrine tumor. It can spread to the other organs of the body and is more aggressive than the neuroendocrine tumor.
- Paraganglioma: This is usually a benign type of tumor. Very rarely is this type of tumor malignant in nature.
- Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma: It is a rare type of malignant tumor, which is fast-growing and difficult to treat. ( Know more about- What is Prostate Cancer? Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Cost )
What are the causes of Appendix Cancer?
- The exact cause of appendix cancer is unknown.
- It occurs when the healthy cells turn abnormal and start growing rapidly.
- This happens due to genetic changes (mutations) in the cells.
What are the risk factors of Appendix Cancer?
Certain factors increase the risk of developing appendix cancer. These factors include:
- Smoking
- Family history of appendix cancer
- Family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), which is a disorder causing tumors in the glands producing hormones
- Increase in age
- More common in women
- Atrophic gastritis, which is long-term inflammation of the lining of the stomach ( Know more about- Home remedies for Stomach Ulcer )
- Pernicious anemia (deficiency of vitamin B-12)
What are the symptoms of Appendix Cancer?
There may be no noticeable symptoms at the beginning of appendix cancer. The symptoms that may be seen later on an appendix cancer are:
- Bloating of the abdomen (stomach)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Discomfort on the lower right part of the stomach
- Obstruction of the bowel
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Hernia (when an organ pushes through an opening in the tissue or muscle that holds it in place) ( Know more about- What is Hernia Surgery? Purpose, Tests, Procedure, Aftercare, Cost )
- Ovarian masses (growths on or in the ovaries)
How to diagnose Appendix Cancer?
- Physical examination: The doctor will first examine the patient physically. The symptoms of the patient are noted, along with the medical history and family history of the patient.
- Biopsy: A sample of the suspected tissue growth is excised (removed) by the doctor and sent to the laboratory to check for the presence of cancer cells and the type of cancer cells that are present.
- CT scan: A computer and a series of x-rays are used to obtain clear images of the internal organs of the body in a CT scan.
- MRI scan: It is a procedure in which a strong magnet, radio waves, and a computer are used to obtain clear images of the internal organs of the body.
- Ultrasound: Sound waves are used in this procedure to obtain clear images of the internal organs of the body.
- PET scan: A small amount of radioactive substance that is attracted to the neuroendocrine tumor is injected into the vein. A special camera is then used to see the accumulation of the radioactive substance. This procedure is used to check the spread of the neuroendocrine tumor and not the other types of appendix cancers.
What are the various Appendix Cancer Treatments?
The treatment of appendix cancer depends on the type and stage of cancer, the severity of cancer, and the overall health of the patient.
The different treatment modalities for appendix cancer are:
- Surgery: This is the most common type of treatment for appendix cancer. The different types of surgeries are:
- Appendectomy: If the tumor has not spread to the other organs, an appendectomy is performed. It is a procedure of surgically removing the appendix. This is generally sufficient for the removal of cancer. ( Know more about- What is Appendectomy ( Appendix Surgery )?Symptoms, Procedure, Aftercare, Cost )
- Hemicolectomy:
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- If the tumor is a carcinoid tumor, and the tumor’s size is more than 2 cm, a hemicolectomy is suggested along with appendectomy.
- The surgeon removes a part of the colon (large intestine), that is next to the appendix and then re-attaches the remaining parts of the colon.
- This procedure may also be recommended for other types of appendix cancers.
- Debulking or cytoreductive surgery:
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- In case of a non-carcinoid type of appendix cancer, which has spread to the other parts of the body, this procedure is recommended.
- The surgeon removes the tumor and any surrounding fluid that may be present, as well as the affected surrounding organs such as parts of the intestine, spleen, gallbladder, uterus, ovaries, and the abdominal cavity lining in this procedure.
- The removal of the abdominal cavity is known as peritonectomy.
- Chemotherapy:
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- This type of treatment involves the use of drugs or a group of drugs to kill or destroy the cancer cells. In the case of appendix cancer which is not a type of neuroendocrine tumor, chemotherapy is used after surgery. Chemotherapy drugs can either be given orally in the form of pills or injected into the veins (intravenously). ( Know more about- What is Chemotherapy? Purpose, Procedure, Side effects, Cost )
- Targeted therapy:
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- This therapy includes the use of drugs to target certain characteristics of the cancer cells.
- This kills the cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy:
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- This procedure involves the use of high-energy beams like x-rays or protons to kill cancer cells.
- It is rarely used for the treatment of appendix cancer.
What are the complications of Appendix Cancer Treatments?
The various complications associated with appendix cancer include:
- Fatigue
- Risk of infection
- Bleeding ( Know more about- What is Blood in Stool? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )
- Hair loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Skin reactions
- Upset stomach
- Loose bowel movements
- Chance of recurrence
If you notice any of the above symptoms post appendix cancer treatment, contact your doctor.
How to prevent Appendix Cancer?
There is no absolute method to prevent appendix cancer. However, the following tips decrease the risk of developing appendix cancer:
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- In case of a known family history of appendix cancer, regular diagnostic check-ups are to be done according to the doctor’s recommendation
What is the cost of Appendix Cancer Treatment in India?
The total cost of appendix cancer treatment in India can range from around INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for appendix cancer treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of appendix cancer treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient is kept in hospital for 5 days and in the hotel for 15 days for recovery. So, the total cost of appendix cancer treatment in India will be around INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding appendix cancer and appendix cancer treatment through this article.
If you want more information and treatment for appendix cancer, you can contact the Surgical Oncologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
