Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a type of tumor that starts in the gallbladder. This small, pear-shaped organ sits on the right side of your abdomen, tucked just below your liver.

Essentially, gallbladder cancer forms when cells in the gallbladder grow abnormally.

This type of cancer isn't very frequent. If it's detected early, when it's still small, there's a good chance of successful treatment. Unfortunately, many cases of gallbladder cancer are found only after the cancer has spread beyond the gallbladder. In these more advanced cases, the chances of surviving the cancer (the prognosis) are often lower.

One reason gallbladder cancer can be hard to find early is that it often doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they can be similar to symptoms of other, more common conditions. Plus, because the gallbladder is located inside the body, it's hidden from view, which makes it easier for the cancer to grow without being detected.

Gallbladder cancer can sometimes not cause any noticeable symptoms. However, when symptoms do appear, they often include:

• Belly pain, usually in the upper right part of your stomach. This pain can vary in intensity.
• Feeling full or bloated in your belly. This is a common symptom of many conditions, so it's important to consider other factors.
• A lump or swelling that you can feel under your skin. This could be a sign of a tumor.
• Unexpected weight loss. This can be a sign of a problem in the body, and it's essential to discuss this with a doctor.
• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice). This is a common sign of a problem with the liver or gallbladder. Jaundice can be harder to detect in people with darker skin tones. It's typically a late-stage symptom, meaning the cancer has likely spread.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it's crucial to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Don't hesitate to bring up any concerns you have. Early detection and treatment are key to successful outcomes.

If you're experiencing symptoms that concern you, please see a doctor.

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The gallbladder is a small organ that stores a yellowish-green liquid called bile, produced by the liver. Bile travels from the liver to the gallbladder, where it's held until needed. When you eat, the gallbladder releases bile into a tube called the bile duct. This duct then carries the bile to the beginning of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Bile helps your body break down fats in the food you eat.

Exactly what causes gallbladder cancer is unknown.

Doctors know that gallbladder cancer starts when the DNA within healthy gallbladder cells changes. Think of DNA as a set of instructions for the cells. Healthy cells have instructions to grow and divide at a certain pace, and to die at a specific time.

But in cancer cells, the DNA instructions are altered. These altered instructions tell the cancer cells to multiply much faster than normal. Cancer cells also ignore the instructions to die, leading to a buildup of these abnormal cells.

These extra cancer cells can clump together to form a mass called a tumor. This tumor can grow, pushing into and damaging surrounding healthy tissue. Over time, cancer cells may break off from the tumor and travel to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads this way, it's called metastatic cancer.

Most gallbladder cancers start in the cells that line the inside of the gallbladder. These cells are called glandular cells. Gallbladder cancer that starts in these cells is called adenocarcinoma. This name describes how the cancer cells look under a microscope.

Gallbladder cancer is a type of cancer that affects the gallbladder, a small organ near the liver. Several factors can increase a person's chances of getting this cancer.

Gender: Women are more likely to develop gallbladder cancer than men. Scientists believe this might be linked to estrogen, a hormone that's more prevalent in women and also associated with an increased risk of gallstones.

Age: The risk of gallbladder cancer generally goes up as people get older, becoming more common after age 65. However, it can affect people of all ages, including children.

Gallstones: A history of gallstones is a significant risk factor for gallbladder cancer. Gallstones are hard deposits that can form in the gallbladder. Larger gallstones may pose a higher risk. While gallstones are quite common, gallbladder cancer is relatively rare, even among people with gallstones.

Other Gallbladder Issues: Certain problems with the gallbladder, like polyps (small growths), infections, and chronic inflammation (ongoing swelling and irritation), can also raise the risk of gallbladder cancer.

Bile Duct Inflammation: A condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) causes inflammation in the tubes that carry bile from the gallbladder and liver. This inflammation increases the chance of gallbladder cancer.

Important Note: Currently, there's no known way to prevent gallbladder cancer. This means there aren't any proven strategies to reduce a person's risk.

Diagnosing and Staging Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a serious condition, and early diagnosis is important. Doctors use several tests and procedures to determine the extent of the cancer, which helps them plan the best treatment.

Understanding the Bile Ducts:

A common way to see the bile ducts is through a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). A thin, flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) is inserted through the throat and into the small intestine. A special dye is then injected into the bile ducts using a thin tube (catheter). X-rays are taken to show the ducts and look for blockages. This procedure can also be used to remove small stones.

Initial Diagnosis:

The process often starts with a conversation about your symptoms. Your doctor might also order blood tests to check how well your organs are working. Liver function tests, in particular, can provide clues about the cause of your symptoms. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI scans, are also used to look for signs of gallbladder cancer. These images can create pictures of the gallbladder, helping doctors see any unusual features.

Staging the Cancer:

Once gallbladder cancer is diagnosed, the next step is to determine how far it has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps doctors predict the likely outcome (prognosis) and choose the best treatment.

Tests to Determine the Spread:

Several tests help stage gallbladder cancer:

• Bile Duct Imaging: Your doctor might use procedures that involve injecting dye into the bile ducts to visualize them. Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), are used to see if the ducts are blocked and to assess the extent of the disease. These tests help show if the cancer has spread to the bile ducts.

• Other Imaging: CT and MRI scans of the abdomen and chest are common to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. These scans provide detailed images of the organs, allowing doctors to look for any signs of the cancer's spread.

• Exploratory Surgery (Laparoscopy): If surgery is a possibility, your doctor might recommend a procedure called laparoscopy. This involves making a small incision in the abdomen and inserting a tiny camera. The camera lets the surgeon examine the organs around the gallbladder to see if the cancer has spread to nearby tissues.

Understanding Gallbladder Cancer Stages:

Gallbladder cancer stages range from 0 to 4. A lower stage generally means the cancer is smaller and easier to treat.

• Stage 0: Cancer is confined to the gallbladder lining.
• Stage 1: Cancer is only in the gallbladder.
• Stage 2: Cancer has grown beyond the gallbladder but hasn't spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs.
• Stage 3: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: Cancer has spread to nearby organs or other parts of the body.

Your healthcare team will use the information gathered from these tests to determine the stage of your cancer and discuss the best treatment options with you.