# Proactive Appendectomy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454 "2014-09-14T03:33:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/21 "2014-09-16T16:31:17Z")
Sounds like it’s possible to do, however you need to weigh the risk versus reward. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/22 "2014-09-16T17:49:44Z")
I think it is a wise precaution for someone like mrAru [who actually did end up with appendicitis when he was 14] because it runs in his family - both sides had direct relatives that ended up with their appendices [appendixes?] going bad and needing removal. Just like the women who get their breasts removed because of a familial tendency towards breast cancer, or an hysterectomy because ovarian cancer runs in their family. I know that ‘first do no harm’ is [theoretically] part of the Doctors oath, however is removing something that has a high risk of going bad and killing the patient harm? Sorry - if I can document 4 generations of women dying from or being diagnosed with cancer of something, I am going to want that something removed before it can do it to me! ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/23 "2014-09-16T23:39:13Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I think it is a wise precaution for someone like mrAru [who actually did end up with appendicitis when he was 14] because it runs in his family - both sides had direct relatives that ended up with their appendices [appendixes?] going bad and needing removal. Just like the women who get their breasts removed because of a familial tendency towards breast cancer, or an hysterectomy because ovarian cancer runs in their family. > > I know that ‘first do no harm’ is [theoretically] part of the Doctors oath, however is removing something that has a high risk of going bad and killing the patient harm? Sorry - if I can document 4 generations of women dying from or being diagnosed with cancer of something, I am going to want that something removed before it can do it to me! Appendicitis runs in families? I had no idea. My dad got appendicitis during WWII, and my mom had her appendix removed during one of her other abdominal surgeries. I never knew there was a hereditary component… ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/24 "2014-09-17T03:28:03Z")
How’s this for oops - should have had that removed: Laura Nero (look her up - 5th Dimension and Blood, Sweat, and Tears made lots of money recording her songs), died at 49 from ovarian cancer - same age and disease as her mother. At 49, it’s not like you’re going to use them… ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/25 "2014-09-18T01:01:27Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Appendicitis runs in families? I had no idea. My dad got appendicitis during WWII, and my mom had her appendix removed during one of her other abdominal surgeries. I never knew there was a hereditary component… Yup. > **[Heredity and familial tendency of acute appendicitis - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18265855/)** > > In the light of past studies, we can suggest that almost half of the variability in risk of acute appendicitis is due to genetic factors. A positive family history increases the relative risk of being acute appendicitis nearly 3 times. > [@](#): > > **Heredity and familial tendency of acute appendicitis.** > > CONCLUSIONS: In the light of past studies, we can suggest that almost half of the variability in risk of acute appendicitis is due to genetic factors. A positive family history increases the relative risk of being acute appendicitis nearly 3 times. [URL=“[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/)”] ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/26 "2014-09-18T17:02:27Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Yup. > [Heredity and familial tendency of acute appendicitis - PubMed](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18265855) > > [URL=“[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/)”] Wow. Learn something new every day. Now I have something else to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454/27 "2014-09-18T17:11:43Z")
Actually, that appendicitis article is not worth reading. It sounds like it was done by a high school student. If one of your parents had appendicitis you are at increased risk, but that could be culture, diet, parasite exposure or anything else. Not at all the same as being hereditary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proactive-appendectomy/698454.md?page=1)