About Gallbladder Cancer

Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by

• Gallbladder Cancer

• Gallbladder Carcinoma

• The most common type is called Adenocarcinoma

What is Gallbladder Cancer?

• Definition: Gallbladder cancer is a rare type of cancer that starts in the gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ located under the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid made by the liver that helps digest fats.

• Process: Gallbladder cancer usually begins in the gland-like cells that line the inside of the gallbladder. These cells can grow uncontrollably and form a tumor.

Types of Gallbladder Cancer

• Most gallbladder cancers are adenocarcinomas, meaning they start in the gland-like cells.

• There are three types of adenocarcinomas: Nonpapillary, Papillary, and Mucinous.

• Nonpapillary is the most common and aggressive.

• Papillary is less likely to spread and has a better prognosis.

Symptoms

• Gallbladder cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage because it doesn't cause symptoms early on.

• When symptoms do appear, they can include:

• Belly pain

• Bloating

• A lump you can feel in your belly

• Unexplained weight loss (which isn’t usually present in the early stages)

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

How is it Diagnosed?

• Gallbladder cancer is diagnosed through a combination of imaging tests and biopsies.

• Doctors may use ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans to look at the gallbladder and surrounding organs.

• Blood tests can also help but are not specific for gallbladder cancer.

• If a suspicious area is found, a biopsy, where a small piece of tissue is taken and examined under a microscope, is done to confirm the diagnosis.

How is it Treated?

• The treatment for gallbladder cancer depends on the stage of the cancer and the patient's overall health.

• Early-stage gallbladder cancer can sometimes be treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) and nearby tissues.

• If the cancer has spread, additional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used.

• Advanced gallbladder cancer that cannot be surgically removed is usually treated with palliative care to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Trends

• Gallbladder cancer is rare in the United States, accounting for about 0.5% of all cancers.

• Each year, about 4,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US.

• Over the past five years, approximately 20,000 people in the US have been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.

• The number of new cases of gallbladder cancer is expected to remain relatively stable over the next five years due to its rarity and the lack of significant changes in risk factors.

History

• Gallbladder cancer has been known to medical science for many years, but it remains a rare and often deadly disease.

• The gallbladder was first described in ancient times, but it wasn't until modern medical imaging and surgical techniques that gallbladder cancer could be accurately diagnosed and treated.

• Historically, gallbladder cancer was often discovered incidentally during surgeries for other conditions, such as gallstones.

• Advances in imaging technology, such as ultrasound, CT scans, and MRIs, have improved the ability to detect gallbladder cancer earlier, although it is still often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Gallbladder Cancer - Source of Information

• American Cancer Society

• Mayo Clinic

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

• National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information

For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.