Gall bladder cancer: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition of gallbladder cancer

What is gall bladder cancer?

Gallbladder or gallbladder cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissue of the gallbladder.

The gallbladder itself is a pear-shaped organ located under the liver. Its function is to store bile, which is liquid to digest food produced by the liver.

Bile's most important role is to break down fat, the most difficult to digest food nutrient. Fat requires more chemical interactions to be converted into energy. When your body digests fatty foods, your gallbladder releases bile.

The gallbladder has four main tissue layers, namely the mucosal layer (inside), the muscle layer, the connective tissue layer, and the serosal layer (outer). Cancer cells can usually appear on any layer. However, more often it starts from the inner layer and grows to the outer layer.

How common is this disease?

Gall bladder cancer is a fairly rare type of cancer. Compared to men, this cancer is more common in women. This cancer can strike any age, but is most often found in people who are older.

In most cases, gallbladder cancer is diagnosed when it enters an advanced stage. Most likely this is due to the symptoms that the sufferer does not realize.

The gallbladder has four main tissue layers, namely the mucosal layer (inside), the muscle layer, the connective tissue layer, and the serosal layer (outer). Cancer cells can usually appear on any layer. However, more often it starts from the inner layer and grows to the outer layer.

Gall bladder cancer signs & symptoms

Gallbladder cancer generally does not cause signs or symptoms at an early stage. Symptoms usually appear when cancer cells enlarge or spread. Even so, there are also people who experience symptoms at an early stage.

General symptoms

The following are common signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer:

• Abdominal pain. Most of these cancer patients experience abdominal pain, which is around the right upper part of the stomach.
• Nausea and vomiting. In addition to stomach pain, nausea and vomiting are also felt by many people with this type of cancer.
• Jaundice. If the cancer becomes large enough and blocks the bile ducts, bile from the liver cannot flow into the intestines. This will cause jaundice (jaundice) to occur. Jaundice is a condition that causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow.
• A lump in the stomach. Blocked bile ducts can cause the gallbladder to swell. If touched there will be a lump in the upper right side of the stomach.

Less common symptoms

Apart from the above, some people may also experience less common signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer, such as:

• Decreased appetite.
• Weight loss drastically for no apparent reason.
• Itchy skin.
• Fever.
• Dark urine or pale, oily stools.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience the signs and symptoms listed above, see a doctor immediately. Early detection of cancer in the digestive system, of course, makes the percentage of cure better.

Causes of gallbladder cancer

Until now, it is not clear what causes gallbladder cancer. However, health professionals know that gallbladder cancer forms when healthy gallbladder cells undergo changes (mutations) in DNA.

The mutation causes these cells to grow out of control and continue living at a time when other cells would normally die. The accumulated cells form a tumor that can grow beyond the size of the gallbladder and spread to other areas of the body.

Most gallbladder cancers begin in the glandular cells that line the inner surface of the gallbladder. Gallbladder cancer that starts in this type of cell is called adenocarcinoma. This term refers to the way cancer cells appear when examined under a microscope.

Gall bladder cancer risk factors

Although the exact cause of gallbladder cancer is not known, researchers have found a variety of factors that can increase the risk, such as:

• Gender. Gallbladder cancer is more common in women.
• Age. The risk of gallbladder cancer increases with age.
• Weight. People who are obese have a higher risk of developing gallbladder cancer.
• History of gallstones. This type of cancer is most common in people who have had gallstones in the past. Even so, this case is quite rare.
• Other gallbladder diseases and conditions. The risk of cancer of the digestive system increases in people who have problems with the gallbladder, such as cysts or inflammation of the bile ducts.

Gall bladder cancer diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

How to diagnose gallbladder cancer

In order to diagnose gallbladder cancer, your doctor will ask you to undergo a series of medical tests, such as:

• Blood test. This medical test is used to evaluate liver function so that it can help your doctor determine what is causing your signs and symptoms.
• Imaging test. This imaging test can provide an image of the gallbladder. Some of the types of tests are ultrasound (USG), CT Scan, and MRI.
• Exploration operations. This is done to see the inside of the stomach directly through a laparoscopic procedure, which is to make a small incision in the abdomen and insert a small camera for examination.
• Bile duct examination. A medical procedure that involves injecting a special dye into the bile duct is complemented by imaging tests to get the location and image of abnormal cells. This test is called magnetic resonance cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

How is gallbladder cancer staging?

To determine the stage of the cancer, it is seen from the spread of cancer cells:

• Stage I.At this stage, cancer cells are confined to the inner lining of the gallbladder.

• Stage II.At this stage, the cancer has grown to the outer lining of the gallbladder and can spread beyond the gallbladder.

• Stage III.At this stage, the cancer has grown (spread) to reach one or more nearby organs, such as the liver, small intestine, or stomach. Cancer of this stage may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

• Stage IV.The last stage of gallbladder cancer includes large tumors involving several nearby organs and tumors of various sizes that have spread to distant areas of the body.

What are the treatments for gallbladder cancer?

Gallbladder cancer treatment options are determined based on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.

The initial goal of treatment is to remove gallbladder cancer, but if this is not possible, other therapies can help control the spread of the disease and make you feel as comfortable as possible.

More specifically, here are various ways to treat gallbladder cancer:

Surgery to remove the gall bladder

Early gallbladder cancer that is still only in the gallbladder is treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).

Surgery to remove the gall bladder and part of the liver

Cancer that extends beyond the gallbladder and into the liver is sometimes treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder, as well as a portion of the liver and bile duct that surrounds the gallbladder.

Other treatment

Surgery cannot cure gallbladder cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. Your doctor may use medications that can relieve the signs and symptoms of cancer and make you feel as comfortable as possible.

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a drug therapy that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Some gallbladder cancer drugs used are gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, and oxaliplatin.
• Radiotherapy . Radiotherapy uses high-power light energy, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells.

Home treatment of gallbladder cancer

In addition to following doctor's cancer treatment, patients with this type of cancer must adopt a healthier lifestyle, including:

• Maintain body weight and eat healthy, nutritious foods. Limit consumption of foods that are high in fat, salt, sugar, or preservative foods.
• Get regular exercise. Talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise you are safe to do.
• Quit smoking and avoid inhaling secondhand smoke around you.

Gall bladder cancer prevention

There is no specific way to prevent gallbladder cancer. Even so, there are several things you can do to lower your risk, as reported by the American Cancer Society website:

• Always exercise diligently and keep your body weight ideal.
• Increase consumption of vegetables, fruit, whole grains that are rich in antioxidants to keep body cells healthy.
• Quit smoking and limit your alcohol consumption.