Overview
Gallbladder cancer is a rare but aggressive malignancy that arises in the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver that stores bile. It is often diagnosed late due to non-specific symptoms.
Symptoms
- Right upper abdominal pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unintended weight loss
- Fever
- Abdominal bloating or lump
Causes & Risk Factors
- Gallstones (most common risk factor)
- Chronic gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
- Porcelain gallbladder
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
- Older age and female gender
- Ethnicity (higher in South America and South Asia)
Diagnosis
- Abdominal ultrasound
- CT scan or MRI
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
- ERCP or MRCP (to visualize bile ducts)
- Biopsy or fine-needle aspiration (FNA)
Treatment Options
- Surgery (cholecystectomy or extended resection for early stages)
- Chemotherapy (e.g., gemcitabine and cisplatin)
- Radiation therapy (adjuvant or palliative)
- Palliative care (for symptom control in advanced cases)
Prognosis
- Depends on stage at diagnosis
- 5-year survival:
- Localized: ~65%
- Regional: ~28%
- Distant: ~2–5%
Living with this Cancer Type
- Nutritional management and small frequent meals
- Pain relief and bile duct stenting if needed
- Emotional and family support
- Close follow-up and palliative consultation
Prevention & Screening
- Timely removal of symptomatic gallstones
- Monitoring porcelain gallbladder or PSC patients
- Healthy diet and weight control
- No standard screening for general population
FAQs
Q: Is gallbladder cancer related to gallstones?
A: Yes, long-standing gallstones are the most common risk factor.
Q: Is gallbladder cancer curable?
A: Only if diagnosed early and completely removed surgically.
Q: Can it be detected early?
A: Often difficult due to vague symptoms; imaging for other reasons may reveal it.
Resources
- American Cancer Society
- National Cancer Institute
- ClinicalTrials.gov
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