Gall Bladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the gallbladder, a small organ in the shape of pear that is located under the liver, behind the lower right ribs.

Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

• Pain above the stomach.
• Fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Bloating.
• Lumps in the abdomen.

Gallbladder cancer risk factors

• Gallbladder cancer occurs twice as frequently in women as in men.
• Gallbladder cancer occurs mainly in individuals over the age of 65.
• Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for gallbladder cancer.
• Although the genetic cause is unknown, the risk of gallbladder cancer seems to increase in families with a history of the disease.
• Some studies have shown that exposure to certain industrial chemicals, particularly those used in the rubber and textile industries, may be linked to an increased risk of gallbladder cancer.
• The leading gallbladder cancer risk factor is the presence of gallstones, which are found in over 75 percent of patients with gallbladder cancer. but most people with this condition do not develop gallbladder cancer.
• Porcelain gallbladder: This is a condition where calcium deposits cover the wall of the gallbladder
• Choledochal cysts
• Gallbladder polyps

Diagnosis of Gallbladder cancer

• Lab tests
• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• MRI
• X-ray
• Cholangiography
• Laparoscopy
• Biopsy

Throughout your treatment, imaging and laboratory tests are used to track the size of the tumors, monitor your response to treatment, and modify your plan when needed.

Gallbladder cancer treatments

Surgery

Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy

Treatment Options for Gallbladder Cancer

Localized Gallbladder Cancer

Treatment of localized gallbladder cancer may include the following:

Surgery to remove the gallbladder and some of the tissue around it. Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy may follow surgery.

Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.

Gallbladder Cancer if operation / surgery is not possible

Radiation therapy, with or without surgery or the placement of stents, to relieve symptoms caused by blocked bile ducts.

Surgery to relieve symptoms caused by blocked bile ducts.

Chemotherapy to relieve symptoms caused by the cancer.

Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer

Treatment of recurrent gallbladder cancer depends on where the cancer has recurred.

Advanced Gallbladder cancer

Stage III gallbladder cancer

Stage IIIA: The cancer has extended through the outermost layer of the gallbladder  and/or may have extended into the liver or another nearby structure.

Stage IIIB: Cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but the tumor has not spread into the blood vessels.

Stage IV gallbladder cancer

Stage IVA: The cancer has spread into the blood vessels leading to the liver, and/or has extended to a nearby organ other than the liver.

Stage IVB: Cancers at this stage are the most advanced. Cancer cells have either spread to lymph nodes farther away from the gallbladder, or they have spread to distant organs.

Advanced gallbladder cancer

Cancer that has spread to another part of the body is called:

secondary cancer

metastases

metastatic cancer

Where gallbladder cancer can spread to

Gallbladder cancer most commonly spreads into nearby lymph nodes or organs, such as:

The pancreas

The bile ducts

The liver

The small bowel (duodenum)

The stomach

You should know that treatment for pain is part of cancer treatment. It is important to resist the big myth that because cancer is a serious disease, pain is to be expected. Most people can get complete relief for their pain — or at least significant relief that allows them to enjoy the activities of daily life.

What is advanced or metastatic gallbladder cancer

Advanced gallbladder cancer includes stage 3 and stage 4 and terminal cancer. Stage 3 includes when cancer spreads to other tissues in and around the ovary and / or lymph nodes. Stage 4 includes metastasis.

Metastasis happens when cancer cells break away from a primary tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the system that produces stores and carries the cells that fight infections). When cancer cells spread and form a new tumour in a different organ, the new tumor is a metastatic tumor, the cells of which come from the original tumor.

Some people with metastatic cancer do not have symptoms. Their metastases may be found by tests, which may be performed for other reasons such as PET, MRI or CT scan. When symptoms do occur, the type and frequency depend on the size and location of the metastasis. For example, cancer that spreads to the bones is likely to cause pain and can lead to bone fractures. Shortness of breath may be a sign of lung involvement.

Liver metastasis

If they do have symptoms, they may be vague and can include:

Loss of appetite or feeling full early

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Itching
• Pain in the abdomen
• Swelling in the legs
• Weight loss
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, called jaundice

Lungs metastasis

Because the lungs get blood flow from the rest of the body, cancer can travel there from other organs. Cancer that has spread to the lungs often affects breathing.

Symptoms include:

• A cough that doesn’t go away
• Chest pain
• Blood in the mucus
• Trouble breathing
• Weight loss

Bone metastasis

When cancer travels to the bones, it can weaken them and cause them to release stored calcium. Symptoms include:

• Bone pain
• Constipation, nausea, and loss of appetite from high calcium levels in the blood
• Broken bones
• Numbness or weakness in the legs and possibly the arms
• Pain in the back or neck

Are you suffering from pain?

Any cancer has only 4 treatments. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and pain relief treatment / pain management.

What is the stage of cancer? Stage decides the treatment. All advanced cancers cannot be treated by chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy / radiation therapy may not benefit in stage 4 cancer. Recent research tells that unnecessary chemotherapy may reduce quality & life span too. Pain is the most common problem in stage 3 or 4. Please remember Pain definitely can be controlled or treated at any stage of cancer. Even if you are taking ayurvedic treatment for cancer or homeopathic treatment, it will not help in pain relief – You must take pain management treatment. Pain relief is important for continuing any treatment. Pain relief needs dedicated pain management treatment usually offered by Pain specialist doctors. In addition to best cancer specialist, ACCN is proud to have best pain specialist doctor in Delhi and in India. Pain management and cancer treatment goes side by side. Demand a pain free cancer treatment.

One must always remember that in stage 3 / stage 4 / terminal cancer – palliative care and pain relief treatment is usually the priority treatment so that pain relief continues at home too.  Pain free journey of cancer ie pain free cancer treatment helps in prolongation of life.

Advanced-Cancer Care Network, Delhi, India, with its branches (contact) at Delhi and Rohtak (Haryana) is a unique conglomeration of super-specialist doctors, who believe in well-being of human life.  ACCN is the most advanced centre for stage 3 cancer, stage 4 cancer, advanced stage cancer, terminal cancer, Cancer pain management and palliative care. It offers the unique and state-of-the-art treatment for pain relief and cancer treatment in India.

Click on Pain relief in Gallbadder Cancer to know the best pain management methods at home for gallbladder cancer.

#wincancerpain

Palliative care

Palliative care is designed to give symptomatic relief to the patient, control the side-effects of illness or treatment and improve quality of life of cancer patients. Palliative care treatment is provided by a medical specialist, other than oncosurgeon or oncologist. This medical specialist is known as “Pain & Palliative Care Specialist”. India has very limited number of such specialists and if you are also not able to find one for yourself, please contact ACCN (Advanced – Cancer Care Network), we are proud to have India”s best and most qualified Pain Specialists and Palliative Care Specialists.

Click on Understanding palliative care to know the palliative care treatment for stage 3 cancer or stage 4 cancer or advanced stage cervical cancer.

Role of Palliative Care Treatment

It is usually said that role of palliative care starts, when cancer becomes incurable or advanced stage or terminal or at end-of-life. It is one of the biggest myths in cancer treatment protocols. Palliative care specialist must be consulted and involved in the cancer treatment right from the first day when cancer is diagnosed and treatment is started. Initially when cancer is at stage 1 or 2, complete focus is on cancer cure and palliative care has minimal but very important role. As the cancer (if) progresses, gradually role of palliative care also enlarges.In stage 3 or stage 4.role of palliative care becomes much more important than other regular cancer treatments.

Click on How we can help to know about our various services for advanced cancer patients.

Click on Symptom control to understand that how we can provide suffering free life to advanced cancer patient.

Benefits of Palliative Care

Makes patient feel better and stay active during treatment

Manages side-effects of cancer treatment

Facilitates as high a quality of life as possible

Helps cancer treatments do a better job

Can be curative as well as life-supporting treatment

Cancer diet planning

Improves survival outcomes

Increases immunity levels

Improves communication between patient and family members

Maintains hope and stick to principals of ethics