Gallbladder cancerA disease where abnormal cells split without control and spread to other nearby body tissue and/or organs. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph systems. is a type of tumour that develops in the gallbladder, which is a small, pear-shaped organ located under the liver. The function of the gallbladder is to store bile, a liquid produced by the liver that aids in digestion and is transported through bile ducts to the small intestine.
There are four classifications of gallbladder cancer, which are categorised by the type of cells
• the smallest, living parts of the body. Cells work together to form or build the body
• a human is made up of millions of Cells
• Cells reproduce themselves to make sure a body stays working
• sometimes Cells can be abnormal or damaged and these can be cancer cells
the tumour develops from. The most common type is adenocarcinomaa cancer that grows in gland tissue, which is cancer originating in glandular tissue. Rarer forms of gallbladder cancer include squamous cell carcinomas (cancer forming from squamous cells in skin or tissue lining), sarcomas (bone and soft tissue cancer) and lymphomas (cancer of the lymphatic systemIs part of the immune system whose job is to fight infections and also to filter and get rid of excess/extra body fluid. The lymphatic system is made up of many lymph nodes, spread across most of the body like a network/chain that are connected by very thin, lymph vessels (tube to carry fluids through).).
Gallbladder cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people of 65 years old and is more prevalent in women; however, anyone at any age can develop this type of cancer.
Treatment
If gallbladder cancer is detected, it will be staged and graded based on size, metastasisKnown as secondary cancer, it grows/spreads from the original/ primary cancer. (whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body) and how the cancer cells look under the microscope. Staging and grading helps your doctors determine the best treatment for you.
Cancers can be staged using the TNM staging system:
- T (tumour) indicates the size and depth of the tumour.
- N (nodes) indicates whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymphA clear fluid that moves through the body through the lymphatic system, carrying cells that fight infection. nodes.
- M (metastasis) indicates whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
This system can also be used in combination with a numerical value, from stage 0-IV:
- Stage 0: this stage describes cancer cells in the place of origin (or ‘in situ’) that have not spread to nearby tissue.
- Stage I: cancer cells have begun to spread to nearby tissues. It is not deeply embedded into nearby tissue and has not spread to lymph nodes. This stage is also known as early-stage cancer.
- Stage II: cancer cells have grown deeper into nearby tissue. Lymph nodes may or may not be affected. This is also known as localisedOnly to one area/place of body. cancer.
- Stage III: the cancer has become larger and has grown deeper into nearby tissue. Lymph nodes are generally affected at this stage. This is also known as localised cancer.
- Stage IV: the cancer has spread to other tissues and organs in the body. This is also known as advancedAt a late stage, far along or metastatic cancer.
Cancers can also be graded based on the rate of growth and how likely they are to spread:
- Grade
• A score that tells how quickly a tumour might spread and grow by looking at how the abnormal cells and tissue look under a microscope.
• Grade is not the same as stage.
• Grading is different depending on the type of cancer.
I: cancer cells present as slightly abnormal and are usually slow growing. This is also known as a low-grade tumour. - Grade II: cancer cells present as abnormal and grow faster than grade-I tumours. This is also known as an intermediate-grade tumour.
- Grade III: cancer cells present as very abnormal and grow quickly. This is also known as a high-grade tumour.
Once your tumour has been staged and graded, your doctor may recommend genetic testing, which analyses your tumour DNA and can help determine which treatment has the greatest chance of success. They will then discuss the most appropriate treatment option for you.
Treatment is dependent on several factors, including age, stage of disease and overall health. The types of treatments generally don’t vary between adults and children.
Treatment options for gallbladder cancer may include:
- Surgery, potentially including:
- Tumour resection.
- Cholecystectomy (removal off the gallbladder).
- Pancreaticduodenectomy/Whipple procedure (removal of portions of the pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, small intestine and/or the stomach).
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy
• a chemical drug treatment to kill or slow-growing cancer Cells
• these drugs are called cytotoxic drugs
. - Immunotherapy.
- Targeted therapy.
- Clinical trials.
- Pallative care.
For more information about treatment options, please refer to the Rare Cancers Australia treatment options page.
Risk factors
Some of the risk factors for gallbladder cancer include:
- Previous gallbladder conditions, such as gallstones, gallbladder polyps, choledochal cysts, calcified gallbladder, or inflammation.
- Family history of gallbladder cancer.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Older age.
- Being female.
Not everyone with these risk factors will develop the disease, and some people who have the disease may have none of these risk factors. See your general practitioner (GP) if you are concerned.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of gallbladder cancer include:
- Abdominal pain (usually on the upper right side).
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes).
- Fever.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
- Abdominal bloating.
- Unusual abdominal lumps.
- Fatigue.
- Darker urine.
- Clay-coloured stools.
Not everyone with the symptoms above will have cancer, but see your GP if you are concerned.
Diagnosis/diagnosing
If your doctor suspects you have gallbladder cancer, they may order the following tests to confirm the diagnosisUsing medical test results, identify and name a disease and/or condition. and refer you to a specialist for treatment.
Physical examination
Your doctor will collect your overall medical history, as well as your current symptoms. Following this, they may examine your body to check for any abnormalities.
Imaging & blood tests
The doctor will take images of your body using magnetic resonance imagingTaking images/photos of inside body parts using magnet rather than x-ray. (MRITaking images/photos of inside body parts using magnet rather than x-ray.), a computed tomography scan (CT scanA 3-D (three dimensional) x-ray pictures that gives more information than a normal x-ray.), ultrasounds, x-rays, and/or positron emission tomography (PET scanA test that uses a radioactive drug to show a picture of how your tissues and organs are working. Also known as a positron emission tomography scan.), depending on where it is suspected the cancer is. The doctor may also look at other parts of the body and looks for signs of metastasis. Additionally, a bloodhello test may be taken to assessTo measure, look at and learn from. your overall health, your liver function, and help guide treatment decisions.
Biopsy
Once the location of the cancer has been identified, the doctor will perform a biopsyTo take a small piece of body tissue and test it in a laboratory. to remove a section of tissue using a needle. This can be done during a diagnostic laparoscopyLooking into the abdomen with a small, flexible camera called an endoscope., which is a minimally invasive day surgery. Small incisions will be made in your abdomenstomach, stomach area, belly, tummy, and a long, thin, tube with a camera and a light attached will be inserted to observe your gallbladder. A biopsy can also be done during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, which involves inserting a long, thin, tube with a camera and a light down your throat and into the gallbladder for observationChecking a person’s vital signs such as blood pressure, heartrate, temperature and oxygen saturation (amount of oxygen in the blood). Commonly know as Obs..
