Lindsay Barad’s Cancer Journey

Lindsay Barad thought she was in peak physical condition.

The 39-year-old from New York had just completed her fourth marathon, steering clear of alcohol and eating healthily. She really felt on top of the world.

Yet, only a month after that race in 2021, she received a shocking diagnosis: stage four appendiceal cancer. It turned out she had hundreds of tumors throughout her body.

“I had never even heard of this cancer,” Barad reflected during an interview. “I was genuinely shocked. I had no other symptoms; I thought it was just endometriosis or something similar.”

Appendiceal cancer is now recognized as the fastest-rising cancer among those under 50, with young adults being up to seven times more likely to develop it than in the 1940s.

Barad is one of the many young adults facing this illness, struggling to understand why it affected her, especially given her healthy lifestyle.

She also couldn’t pinpoint when it all began. For as long as she could remember, she had experienced heavy periods, cramps, and bloating—symptoms that can signify appendiceal cancer—but she had always dismissed them as normal.

Doctors had dismissed her concerns too, attributing them to the usual challenges women encounter, putting her on birth control and offering over-the-counter painkillers instead of further investigation.

However, in late 2021, after switching gynecologists, Barad was advised to get an ultrasound while seeking an IUD, a small device for pregnancy prevention. The scan revealed a cyst the size of a grapefruit on her right ovary, which was alarming given normal ovaries measure around three to five centimeters. At just 5 feet 1 inch tall, this was particularly concerning for her.

She was quickly taken into surgery, where doctors noticed unusual mucus in her abdomen and swelling in her appendix.

They removed her appendix along with the cyst, right ovary, and right fallopian tube for testing.

Come December 2021, she returned to her doctor’s office and received the definitive diagnosis.

Barad expressed the difficulty in discerning what was normal menstrual discomfort versus the onset of appendix cancer. “What was concerning was that I found myself needing to urinate frequently. Whenever I drank something, I had to rush to the bathroom. It seemed relentless.”

Only later did she understand that the massive cyst was pressuring her bladder, prompting the heightened urge.

The challenge with appendiceal cancer is that it generally doesn’t present clear symptoms early on, which complicates diagnosis.

This type of cancer is rare—about 3,000 cases occur each year—and is usually diagnosed in individuals aged 50 to 55.

However, as cases increase among younger populations, some researchers speculate that dietary changes could be influencing this trend.

Barad was diagnosed with low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN), which is characterized by excessive mucin production that can infiltrate the abdominal cavity and cause significant complications.

This overproduction can lead to the formation of large cysts on ovaries or other organs. The frequency of this form among patients is still under investigation, but some small studies suggest it could be around 40 percent.

To combat her cancer, Barad underwent a grueling 12-hour surgery in March 2022 to eradicate the disease from her body.

During the operation, surgeons made an incision from her chest to her pelvis, attempting to remove as much mucin as they could from her organs.

They ended up removing part of her liver and even a section of her diaphragm because of the mucin accumulation, and at one point, they considered taking her uterus, which would have complicated her hopes for a family. Fortunately, they managed to save that organ.

The procedure concluded with her abdomen being filled with heated chemotherapy drugs to eliminate any lingering cancer cells, followed by intense post-operative recovery that lasted months. She struggled significantly, barely leaving her apartment.

Despite the challenges, the surgery was deemed successful, and no cancer has been found since. Barad now goes for annual check-ups to monitor her health.

Though the cancer is slow-growing, Barad acknowledges she won’t ever be fully “cured,” but rather “in remission,” as there’s always a possibility of its return.

She admits, “It’s so slow-moving that it could stay hidden for a few years, which makes it hard to predict.”

Every year, she undergoes scans and blood tests, feeling secure with her care team. Currently, she is focused on living intentionally, grateful for her support system, and keen to raise awareness about appendiceal cancer.

Living in her apartment with her rescued dog Charlie, a Maltese poodle mix, she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking.

She had frozen her eggs at age 35 for potential family planning but now feels hesitant about the challenges of pregnancy.

Barad is thankful her cancer was detected when it was, even as she contemplates what might have happened if it had gone unnoticed for longer.

Throughout her ordeal, she has received support from organizations dedicated to helping those affected by the disease.