Appendix Cancer Treatment

At Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, no other center in Georgia sees as many appendix cancer cases as we do. It’s that experience — as well as our unparalleled clinical research in gastrointestinal oncology — that makes us the best hospital for appendix cancer in Georgia. We offer all the latest appendix cancer treatment options, so you can feel confident in your care plan.

Winship’s gastrointestinal cancer experts use the latest technology and advanced testing to analyze your appendix cancer at every level. Every single case of appendix cancer is reviewed by our tumor board, where a team of physicians — including your surgeon, pathologist, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and more — will meet to determine the best course of treatment for your cancer. This enables your care team to develop a plan to treat your cancer as aggressively as possible while keeping side effects to a minimum.

Once your personalized appendix cancer treatment plan is created, your team will discuss it with you, and treatment at Winship will be scheduled right away. We will even work with you and your local doctors in the event you decide to stay closer to home for treatment. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you get your cancer treated the way it needs to be, wherever that is.

As Georgia’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winship researchers are pioneers in gastrointestinal oncology, including appendix cancer treatment, and lead dozens of clinical trials each year. In fact, many of the drugs used to treat cancer today came out of clinical trials performed at Winship, which means our patients were some of the first to benefit. This means we can offer you access to the latest appendix cancer treatment you won’t find at other cancer centers. We make every effort to match as many patients as possible to ongoing research.

At Winship, we offer the most comprehensive array of appendix cancer treatment options in Georgia and the expertise to know which treatments work best for your individual appendix cancer and in what order. Based on your unique cancer, your treatment plan may include:

Surgery

Almost all cases of appendix cancers are treated with surgery to remove the appendix and sometimes parts of the intestine, colon and other organs. Appendix cancer surgery is complex as it involves delicate, vital structures. Our surgeons are solely dedicated to performing gastrointestinal oncology procedures, meaning they are experts in both the digestive system and cancer resection (removal).

Chemotherapy

This treatment involves the use of medication taken orally or injected to attack cancer cells throughout the body. It’s most frequently used in the treatment of adenocarcinomas and goblet cell cancers, which are more aggressive than other types of appendix cancer. Frequently, multiple drugs are prescribed to increase efficacy.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

HIPEC is an innovative appendix cancer surgery technique that involves removing all the visible signs of cancer (resection) and then immediately saturating the abdomen with a chemotherapy solution to kill any remaining cancer cells. The solution is then removed at the end of the procedure. HIPEC requires specialized knowledge and skills, and Winship’s surgical oncologists perform more HIPEC procedures than anyone else in Georgia.

Targeted Therapy

This type of drug therapy is different from chemotherapy in that it selectively targets a cancer cell’s specific gene mutations while producing fewer side effects. Winship is currently collaborating in a large-scale clinical trial that monitors patients’ response to targeted therapy. Depending on how their genomic profile changes during treatment, we can match patients whose cancer has mutated with additional therapies.

Appendix cancer is unique in that it tends to be a chronic disease, meaning you may need multiple procedures to treat your cancer in the coming years. At Winship, we strive to deliver the most effective treatment while also minimizing side effects. But coping with appendix cancer and the side effects of appendix cancer treatment — particularly those related to nutrition and pain management — can be challenging. That’s why we want you to know that we’ll be with you every step of the way.

We have a supportive oncology team of specialized doctors and nurses on staff to help you with the physical, psychological and emotional aspects of living with cancer, including symptom management and counseling. This team — with the help of counselors, dietitians, social service professionals and others — will be with you every step of the way, supporting you during your experience and beyond.