Procedure Description:

Gallbladder Cancer Treatment

The treatment options for gallbladder cancer will vary depending on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.

The primary goal of treatment is to eliminate the gallbladder cancer, but if this is not possible, alternative therapies may help restrict the progression of the disease and make you as comfortable as possible.

If you have early-stage gallbladder cancer, surgery may be a viable option. Options include:

1- Gallbladder removal surgery. Early gallbladder cancer that is localized to the gallbladder is treated by gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy).

2- Surgery to remove the gallbladder and part of the liver. Gallbladder cancer that spreads to the liver is sometimes treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder as well as sections of the liver and bile ducts that surround it.

If your gallbladder cancer is tiny and can be entirely removed with a cholecystectomy, you may not require further therapy. If there is a possibility that cancer cells will remain after surgery, your doctor may suggest chemotherapy or other treatments.

Disease Overview:

Gallbladder cancer is the abnormal proliferation of cells that begins in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a tiny, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the belly, just behind the liver. The gallbladder holds bile, which is a digestive fluid produced by the liver. Gallbladder cancer is infrequent. When gallbladder cancer is identified in its early stages, the chances of a cure are very high. However, most gallbladder malignancies are detected at a late stage, with a bad prognosis.

Because gallbladder cancer frequently produces no identifiable signs or symptoms, it may go undetected until it is advanced. Furthermore, because the gallbladder is generally hidden, gallbladder cancer is more likely to spread undetected.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

Gallbladder cancer symptoms may include:

1- Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right abdomen

2. Abdominal bloating

3. Losing weight without trying

4. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Disease Causes:

It's unclear what causes gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder cancer develops when healthy gallbladder cells undergo DNA changes (mutations). The majority of gallbladder cancers arise in the glandular cells that line the gallbladder's inner surface. Adenocarcinoma is the name given to gallbladder cancer that originates in this type of cell.

The following factors can raise the risk of gallbladder cancer:

1. Your sex Gallbladder cancer is more prevalent in women.

2. Your age: Your risk of gallbladder cancer rises with age.

3. A history of gallstones: Gallbladder cancer is most common in those who have gallstones or have previously had them. Larger gallstones may pose a higher risk. Nevertheless, gallstones are fairly prevalent, and even in patients with this problem, gallbladder cancer is relatively.

4- Other gallbladder disorders and conditions: Polyps, persistent inflammation, and infection are all conditions that can increase the chance of gallbladder cancer.

5- Bile duct inflammation: Primary sclerosing cholangitis, characterized by inflammation of the ducts that drain bile from the gallbladder and liver, raises the risk of gallbladder cancer.

Disease Diagnosis:

Gallbladder cancer can be diagnosed by the following tests and procedures:

1- Blood testing. Blood tests to assess liver function can assist your doctor in determining the cause of your symptoms.

2- Procedures for creating gallbladder pictures. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are three imaging methods that can produce images of the gallbladder.

The tests and procedures used to stage gallbladder cancer are:

1. Exploratory surgery. Your doctor may propose surgery to examine your abdomen for symptoms that gallbladder cancer has spread.

2. Bile duct examination tests. Your doctor may propose procedures that involve injecting dye into the bile ducts. This is followed by an imaging test to see where the dye goes. These examinations can reveal obstructions in the bile ducts.

3. Additional imaging testing. Most patients with gallbladder cancer will have a series of scans to evaluate whether the cancer has spread or remains contained.

Disease Treatment:

The treatment options for gallbladder cancer will vary depending on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.

The primary goal of treatment is to eliminate the gallbladder cancer, but if this is not possible, alternative therapies may help restrict the progression of the disease and make you as comfortable as possible.

If you have early-stage gallbladder cancer, surgery may be a viable option. Options include:

1- Gallbladder removal surgery. Early gallbladder cancer that is localized to the gallbladder is treated by gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy).

2- Surgery to remove the gallbladder and part of the liver. Gallbladder cancer that spreads to the liver is sometimes treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder as well as sections of the liver and bile ducts that surround it.

If your gallbladder cancer is tiny and can be entirely removed with a cholecystectomy, you may not require further therapy. If there is a possibility that cancer cells will remain after surgery, your doctor may suggest chemotherapy or other treatments.