Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease that is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other conditions and don’t usually appear until later in the disease. As is the case with most cancers, the earlier you catch the disease, the better the treatment outcomes are, so it’s imperative to spot gallbladder cancer before it progresses into the later stages. Today, we’re going to point out some of the signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer, as well as the causes and treatment options, so you can know what to look for when it comes to gallbladder cancer.
Gallbladder Cancer Basics
As we mentioned above, cancer in the gallbladder is a rare form of disease, but the type of cancer that develops there is usually pretty common. Medical data suggests that about 9 in 10 cancers of the gallbladder involve the development of an adenocarcinoma. This type of cancer is one that starts in cells with gland-like properties that line many internal and external surfaces of the body, including many of the organs in your endocrine system.
An offshoot of an adenocarcinoma is a papillary adenocarcinoma. The cells in this type of gallbladder cancer have a different arrangement than a traditional adenocarcinoma, and are less likely to spread to the liver or surrounding lymph nodes. Only about six percent of gallbladder cancers involve the papillary form of an adenocarcinoma, but it traditionally has more favorable outcomes. Lastly, there are even rarer forms of gallbladder cancers, such as an adenosquamous carcinoma, squamous cell carcinomas, small cell carcinomas and sarcomas, but all these forms combined make up less than five percent of all gallbladder cancers.
Gallbladder Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Here’s a quick look at some of the signs and symptoms that traditionally accompany the development of gallbladder cancer:
- Abdominal pain, particularly in the upper right portion of the stomach area.
- Jaundice or a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
- Swelling in the belly from inflamed or blocked bile ducts.
- Weight loss.
It’s important to know that these symptoms also mimic other conditions in the gallbladder and surrounding organs. Individuals with gallstones often have similar symptoms, as do patients with infections of the liver. Even so, if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact an endocrine system doctor right away.
Gallbladder Cancer Causes and Treatment Options
Gallbladder cancer is typically the result of chronic gallbladder inflammation or abnormalities/blockage of the bile ducts. Researchers suggest that several factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing the above conditions which could lead to gallbladder cancer. Some of the common risk factors include being older, having a family history of gallbladder disease, gallstone development, obesity and being female.
Once your condition is diagnosed and staged, your surgical team will discuss your options. There are many different types of treatment options, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, palliative therapy, or a combination of more than one technique. If surgery is the preferred route and cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes, surgeons will perform a cholecystectomy to remove the gallbladder, as a person can function just fine without their gallbladder. For more information on the condition or your treatment options, reach out to Dr. Koeplin today.
