| | | | | substances (carcinogens). |
| Gallbladder Cancer | | | | |
| Definition | | | | Tests and diagnosis |
| Gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer are rare | | | | Many gallbladder cancers are discovered after a |
| cancers of the biliary tract. Your gallbladder stores | | | | laboratory examination of a gallbladder that's been |
| and your bile duct transports bile, a fluid produced by | | | | removed for other reasons. Only about one-quarter |
| your liver that's essential to the digestive process. | | | | of gallbladder cancers are diagnosed before the |
| Gallbladder cancer seldom produces symptoms in the | | | | cancer is advanced. |
| early stages. In fact, early gallbladder cancer is often | | | | Diagnosing gallbladder cancer earlier than this is |
| only discovered when the gallbladder is removed as a | | | | difficult because the gallbladder is hidden behind the |
| treatment for gallstones. Otherwise, gallbladder | | | | liver and is relatively inaccessible, because signs and |
| cancer is often quite advanced by the time it's | | | | symptoms don't develop until late in the disease, and |
| diagnosed. | | | | because when symptoms do appear, they can easily |
| | | | | be mistaken for those of many other, more common |
| Symptoms | | | | conditions... |
| Gallbladder cancer symptoms include : - | | | | |
| Abdominal pain : - Many people with gallbladder cancer | | | | Staging biliary tract cancers |
| have some abdominal pain — usually in the upper | | | | Doctors stage biliary tract cancers in several ways. |
| right part of the abdomen. | | | | One method is as follows : - |
| | | | | Resectable : - These cancers have not spread |
| Nausea and vomiting : - These symptoms can occur | | | | beyond the walls of the gallbladder or bile ducts and |
| when a tumor blocks the common bile duct. | | | | can be entirely removed in an operation. The term |
| | | | | "resectable" refers to a cancer that can be removed. |
| Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes | | | | |
| (jaundice) : - Jaundice results from high blood levels | | | | Unresectable : - At this stage, the cancer has spread |
| of bilirubin — the residue from the breakdown of | | | | to nearby lymph nodes or other organs such as the |
| red blood cells. Normally, bilirubin is metabolized in your | | | | liver, pancreas, stomach or intestines and can't be |
| liver and eliminated through the bile ducts. But a | | | | completely removed. |
| blocked bile duct can cause bilirubin to accumulate in | | | | |
| your blood. The built-up pigments may turn your skin | | | | Recurrent : - This refers to cancer that returns after |
| and the whites of your eyes yellow and your urine | | | | it has been treated. It may recur in the gallbladder or |
| dark brown. Because bilirubin isn't being eliminated | | | | bile duct or in some other part of the body. |
| through your bile, your stools also may turn pale | | | | |
| yellow or white. | | | | Treatments |
| | | | | Gallbladder cancer treatment depends on the type |
| Unintended weight loss or loss of appetite : - Tumors | | | | and stage of cancer, as well as on your age, overall |
| can prevent the normal passage of food or interfere | | | | health, feelings and personal preferences. Especially |
| with its absorption by blocking the flow of pancreatic | | | | when cancer is advanced, choosing a treatment plan |
| enzymes. | | | | is a major decision, and it's important to take enough |
| | | | | time to consider your choices. |
| Causes | | | | You may also want to consider seeking a second |
| Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the | | | | opinion. This can provide additional information to help |
| right side of your abdomen, just beneath your liver. | | | | you feel more certain about the option you're |
| Its main function is to store bile, a bitter, | | | | considering. |
| yellow-green fluid that's produced in the liver cells. Bile | | | | The goal of any treatment is to eliminate the cancer |
| is essential for the proper digestion of fats and is one | | | | completely. When that isn't possible, the focus may |
| of the main ways your body eliminates drugs, | | | | be on preventing the tumor from growing or causing |
| cholesterol and waste products of metabolism. It | | | | more harm. In some cases, an approach called |
| flows from your liver through a thin tube called the | | | | palliative care may be best. Palliative care refers to |
| common hepatic duct and enters your gallbladder | | | | treatment aimed not at removing or slowing the |
| through another small tube (cystic duct)... | | | | disease, but at helping relieve symptoms and making |
| | | | | you as comfortable as possible... |
| How gallbladder cancer begins | | | | |
| Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way — | | | | |
| a process that's controlled by DNA, the genetic | | | | |
| material that contains the instructions for every | | | | Please log on to : |
| chemical process in your body. When DNA is | | | | Send your query : Get a Quote |
| damaged, changes occur in these instructions. One | | | | |
| result is that cells may begin to grow out of control | | | | We Care Core Values |
| and eventually form a malignant tumor — a mass | | | | We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| of cancerous cells. | | | | you as the centre. |
| Although the exact cause of gallbladder and bile duct | | | | Having the industry’s most elaborate and |
| cancers isn't clear, researchers believe that DNA in | | | | exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams |
| the cells of your biliary tract may be damaged by | | | | stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you |
| toxins that are routinely metabolized by your liver. | | | | the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. |
| These toxins are released into bile so that they can | | | | With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five |
| be eliminated from your body. But if bile empties | | | | patients our patient care standards are unmatched |
| more slowly than normal, it increases the amount of | | | | across the sub continent. |
| time your cells are exposed to cancer-causing | | | | |