Gallbladder is an organ located on the right side of the abdomen. The gallbladder stores and releases a digestive juice called bile which is produced in the liver. The liver and the gallbladder are located behind the lower right ribs.In an average adult, the gallbladder is 3 to 4 inches long and about 1 inch wide. Like any type of cancer, gallbladder cancer also starts with an abnormal increase in the growth of the cells. These cells start growing abnormally and form a mass called tumor. The cancer can eventually spread to other parts of the body if it is not detected and treated in the early stages. In the light of the above, the current article intends to discuss the various causes, symptoms and treatments for gallbladder cancer.
Research is still going on to get a clear idea of what causes gallbladder cancer. However, there are some factors that can increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.
1. Sex:Gallbladder cancer is more common in women than in men.
2. Age factor: Gallbladder cancer is more likely to develop in older ages. Therefore,as we grow up, the risk of gallbladder cancer increases.
3. Gallstones: If a person has had gallstones in the past, they are more likely to develop gallbladder cancer than the people who did not.
4. Typhoid: People with long term infection are at a higher risk of developing cancer.
5. Other gallbladder related diseases and conditions: A history of gallbladder diseases and conditions like polyps or infections in the gallbladder can also increase the risk of gallbladder cancer.
6. Family History: If you have close family members who have had gallbladder cancer then your risk of developing it also goes up.
The signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer appear in the later stages when the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body like the nearby organs or lymph nodes.
1. Abdominal pain: The pain is usually felt in the upper right side of the abdomen.
2. Jaundice: The amount of bilirubin increases in the body and makes the color of the skin and eyes yellow.
3. Lumps in the abdomen: This is due to the fact that gallbladder can enlarge due to swelling and give a lumpy feeling on touch.
4. Nausea and vomiting
5. Unintentional weight loss
6. Fever
7. Dark colored urine
8. Excessive bloating
In many cases, gallbladder is removed because of gallstones or cholecystitis and later cancer cells are discover in it. If the gallbladder was not surgically removed previously, the doctor will conduct one or more of the following tests:
1. Blood tests: A blood tests can show the level of various compounds in the body that are related to liver and gallbladder. Blood tests can also help eliminate the suspicion of other conditions.
2. Ultrasound: Sound waves are used to form images of the liver and gallbladder so that the doctor can study them.
3. CT scan: This tests also helps develop images of the liver and gallbladder.
4. MRI scan: A detailed image is produced for examination.
5. PTC: A dye is injected in the body and then an x ray image is taken. The dye can then show the blockage in the gallbladder bile duct.
6. Biopsy: A small tissue sample is removed from the affected area to test in the laboratory to confirm cancer.
After this process, cancer staging is done. This is done to determine how far the cancer has spread in the body. The treatment given to the patient depends upon the result of this cancer staging.
1. Surgery: Surgical removal of gallbladder in the earlier stages can significantly reduce the risk of life.
2. Unfortunately,since the signs and symptoms appear late, therefore very few people are able to get the gallbladder surgically removed before the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Hence treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also provided to destroy the cancer cells.
3. In addition to this, the doctor may prescribe pain relief medicines and anti-cancer medicines to be taken by mouth. You can conveniently buy the anti-cancer medicines online from 3MEDS.
The outlook for gallbladder cancer depends upon the stage of the cancer and the age of the patient. If the gallbladder is surgically removed before the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, the survival rate is higher. It is crucial to complete the course of cancer treatments and medicines for the best results.You can easily buy cancer medicines online at low cost from 3MEDS.
