Understanding Gallbladder & Bile Ducts Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Gallbladder & Bile Ducts Cancer

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that lies just under the liver in your upper abdomen. Its main job is to store bile, which then released into your small bowel through a duct called the common bile duct. This cancer can arise from within the gallbladder itself or from the bile ducts. Gallbladder cancer, like most cancer types, is divided into stages, according to how much it has spread out of the gallbladder into the rest of your body.

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Signs & symptoms

Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose early because symptoms may not be present or appear late during the disease. Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer include jaundice (yellowing of your eyes and skin), fever, and pain above the stomach. These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by gallbladder cancer or by other conditions.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history, then he or she will perform a physical exam. The following tests will be done next: - *Blood tests*- to check your liver function and chemistry studies. - *Imaging tests* such as *CT scan*, *Ultrasound* or *MRI*

Treatment

There are many types of treatment for patients with gallbladder cancer. The treatment depends on the type of cancer, its stage and your general health: - *Surgery* – to remove the cancer, usually in a case of stage 1 (localized) cancer. - *Chemotherapy*- medication that will kill cancerous cells or stop their growing. - *Radiation therapy*- high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation used to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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