What does the appendix do? Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ

Most people know only two things about the appendix: You don’t need it – and if it bursts, you need surgery fast. That basic ...
Hosted on MSN

Your appendix might not be useless after all—and new research says it could be an evolutionary secret weapon

For years, the appendix carried a reputation as the body’s most pointless organ. Doctors often removed it without hesitation, and textbooks labeled it a vestigial structure—something our ancestors ...
WISH-TV

Health Spotlight | Appendix cancer rates rising in young adults

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Cancers in younger adults are surging. Colon cancer, once a midlife disease, is striking earlier than ever. Breast and kidney cancers are also climbing in people under 50. Now, a ...
WFAE

Your appendix is not, in fact, useless. This anatomy professor explains

It was the first day of spring break in 1992 in Phoenix, Ariz. and 12-year-old Heather Smith was excited for her family's upcoming ski trip But before Smith and her family had even packed their snow ...
NBC Bay Area

Appendix cancers are on the rise in younger generations, study finds

Although they are very rare, cancers of the appendix are on the rise, a new study finds. An analysis of a National Cancer Institute database found that compared with older generations, rates of ...
Hosted on MSN

Appendix Cancer vs. Diverticulitis: Symptoms, Causes And How To Tell the Difference Early

A sudden spike in cases of appendiceal adenocarcinoma, particularly among Gen X and millennials, has become a growing concern among medical professionals. Frequently misdiagnosed or neglected because ...
Everyday Health

Appendix Cancer Sharply Rises Among Gen Xers, Millennials

Though still rare, this cancer is becoming more common — and, experts say, part of a concerning trend. Cases of appendix cancer have gone up 300 to 400 percent for Gen Xers and millennials compared ...