Wylie thought he was fit and healthy. Now he’s fighting for his life at just 39 after doctors dismissed his ‘vague’ symptom
Wylie Dixon was excited to build a future with his beautiful wife – from travelling across Australia to starting the family they had always dreamed of.
But everything came to a halt when the ‘fit and healthy’ retail manager received devastating news that he had an aggressive form of appendix cancer.
The then 38-year-old had been struggling with months of fatigue, but doctors dismissed the ‘vague’ symptom so he assumed there was nothing to worry about.
It wasn’t until he began experiencing excruciating stomach pains and vomiting that he was rushed to the emergency room – where he learned he had stage four cancer.
‘I was heartbroken,’ Wylie, now 39, told FEMAIL.
‘I was in disbelief as I’d never heard of the cancer before… I wasn’t someone who had scheduled health check-ups but I went to the doctor often when something would arise.
‘I was fit and healthy, not overweight, I was very active and walking 10,000 to 20,000 steps per day was normal for me at work.’
By the time he was diagnosed in August 2024, Wylie was told he may have just three months to live – completely turning his world upside down.
He explained that he just can’t fathom how his condition turned into such an extremely rare case, especially since there were no alarming symptoms before his appendix cancer diagnosis.
Wylie Dixon received devastating news that he had an aggressive form of appendix cancer
But his world came to a halt when the ‘fit and healthy’ retail manager received devastating news that he was living with an aggressive form of appendix cancer
‘I didn’t have any major symptoms besides fatigue. That’s the problem with this cancer, everything was vague and didn’t persist, besides the fatigue,’ he said.
For Wylie, the most disheartening part of his diagnosis was feeling a ‘massive sense of being let down’ by doctors.
‘Unfortunately the many GP visits over two years failed to diagnose me,’ he said.
‘Ultimately I ended up in emergency one night with acute abdominal pain and vomiting caused by a blockage right where the appendix is located.
‘I trusted what I was being told but as I now know from my own research many GP visits were caused by the cancer.’
Wylie has lived in Cairns, Far North Queensland, for most of his life but after the diagnosis, he and his wife Ked relocated to Sydney to be closer to the only specialist cancer centre offering the urgent care he needs.
As he was spending more time in Sydney, it only made sense for the couple to move.
The couple made the heartbreaking decision to sell their home, quit their jobs and leave behind their family and friends so they could give Wylie a fighting chance.
Wylie was excited to build a future with his beautiful wife Ked – from travelling across Australia to starting the family they had always dreamed of
The couple made the heartbreaking decision to sell their home, quit their jobs and leave behind their family and friends so they could give Wylie a fighting chance
He underwent a 19-hour peritonectomy surgery, a highly invasive surgical procedure to remove the cancerous tumours from his body.
Since then, he has been enduring intense rounds of chemotherapy.
‘It’s been a very long recovery from the operation, I’m still going eight months on. It’s very much a watch and wait game at the moment,’ he explained.
Despite getting the all-clear, his cancer has returned, and he’s now looking into travelling to Japan or Germany for new treatment options.
‘The likelihood of recurrence is very high,’ he explained.
With both Wylie and his wife unable to work, the rising cost of flights, temporary accommodation, medications, ongoing treatment, and countless specialist appointments have become overwhelming.
‘The stress of mounting bills threatens to overshadow the one thing that matters most: Wylie’s recovery,’ his cousin Ashleigh said on his GoFundMe page.
‘We are asking for your help. Your donation, no matter the size, will help lift some of this burden – giving Wylie the chance to focus on healing without the added weight of financial stress. It will help ensure he can continue receiving the lifesaving care.
‘Please consider supporting Wylie during this incredibly difficult chapter. Every dollar and every message of encouragement means more than you can imagine.’
He underwent a 19-hour peritonectomy surgery, a highly invasive surgical procedure to remove the cancerous tumours from his body. Since then, he has been fighting through intense rounds of chemotherapy
Wylie has lived in Cairns for most of his life but after the diagnosis, he and his wife Ked relocated to Sydney to be closer to the only specialist cancer centre offering urgent care
According to Cancer Council, appendix cancer occurs when cells in the appendix become abnormal and continue to grow, forming a tumour.
The causes are unknown, and there are no clear risk factors – it also does not appear to run in families. Increasing age, however, may raise the risk of developing appendix cancer.
It’s a rare condition, with the most common types occurring in Australians aged between 40 and 60. In 2024, an estimated 874 people were diagnosed with appendiceal cancer.
There is currently no screening available for appendix cancer in Australia. It is often discovered during abdominal surgery for a different condition or after surgical removal of the appendix due to a suspected case of appendicitis.
‘I just hope there’s more awareness of appendix cancer because there is no real screening process for it,’ Wylie said.
By sharing his story, he hopes to encourage young people to push for more answers if their symptoms are overlooked simply because they’re considered ‘too young to have cancer’.
‘GPs shouldn’t dismiss symptoms just because someone is young,’ Wylie said.
‘We’re now seeing cancer rates in younger people go through the roof.’
