Gallbladder Cancer

Overview

Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the gallbladder. It is a rare cancer. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that lies just under the liver in the upper abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid made by the liver to digest fat. When food is being broken down in the stomach and intestines, bile is released from the gallbladder through a tube called the common bile duc, which connects the gallbladder and liver to the first part of the small intestine.

Risk Factors

• Being female.
• Being Native American

Signs and Symptoms

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
• Pain above the stomach.
• Fever.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating.
• Lumps in the abdomen.

Diagnosis

Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose for the following reasons:

• There aren't any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stages of gallbladder cancer.
• The symptoms of gallbladder cancer, when present, are like the symptoms of many other illnesses.
• The gallbladder is hidden behind the liver.

Treatment

Different types of treatments are available. Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and or radiation therapy,. Patients may also be eligible for a clinical trial. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.