Gallbladder cancer is the cancer that starts in the gallbladder. The function of the gallbladder is to store bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. When gall bladder cancer is detected in its initial stages, the chance for a cure is very high. Unfortunately, the symptoms of gallbladder cancer usually do not show up until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage where the treatment becomes difficult.
Symptoms of Gallbladder cancer
The signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer include:
- Abdominal pain, mainly in the upper right part of the abdomen
- Fever
- Abdominal bloating
- Nausea
- Losing weight without trying
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
What are the Causes of Gallbladder Cancer?
It is not certain what leads to gallbladder cancer. However, doctors believe that gallbladder cancer forms when healthy gallbladder cells develop mutations in their DNA. Due to these mutations, the cells grow out of control and continue living when other cells would usually die. The accumulating cells form a tumour that expands beyond the gallbladder and spreads to other parts of the body.
Majority of the gallbladder cancer cases start in the glandular cells that line the inner surface of the gallbladder. This kind of gallbladder cancer is known as adenocarcinoma.
What are the Risk Factors Involved with Gallbladder Cancer?
Factors that can increase the risk of gallbladder cancer include:
- Age: The risk of this cancer increases with age.
- Sex: This cancer is more common in women.
- A History of Gallstones: It will be more common in those who have had gallstones in the past. Still, it is a rare occurrence.
- Other Gallbladder Diseases and Conditions: Some other conditions include gallbladder polyps and chronic gallbladder infection.
What are the Treatment Options for Gallbladder Cancer?
The treatment options available will depend on the cancer stage, overall health as well as preferences.
The initial motive of treatment is to eliminate the gallbladder cancer, but when that becomes impossible, other therapies can help in controlling the cancer spread and keep the patient as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
Surgery for Early-Stage Gallbladder Cancer
For those with an early-stage gallbladder cancer, surgery may be an option. Some of the options are:
- Surgery to Remove the Gallbladder: Early gallbladder cancer confined to the gallbladder is treated with an operation known as a cholecystectomy.
- Surgery to Remove the Gallbladder and a Portion of the Liver: Sometimes the gallbladder cancer extends beyond the gallbladder and spreads to the liver. In such a case, an operation is performed to remove the gallbladder and portions of the liver and bile ducts that line the gallbladder.
Treatments for Late-Stage Gallbladder Cancer
A surgery is unable to cure a gallbladder cancer that has spread to other body parts. In such cases, doctors use treatments that help in relieving signs and symptoms of cancer to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Some treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy: It refers to a drug treatment that uses a combination of medications to kill cancer cells.
- Radiation Therapy: It involves high-powered beams of energy, like X-rays and protons, to destroy cancer cells.
A patient can minimise the risk of severe complications by merely following the treatment plan their gallbladder cancer hospital designs for them. Choosing the best hospital for gallbladder cancer treatment in Gurgaon increases the chances of living a healthy life.
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