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Gallbladder Cancer
- Days In Hospital 7 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 30 days
- Success Rate 75%
Minimum Cost
$ 3500
Maximum Cost.
$ 7000
Overview of Gallbladder Cancer in India
The gallbladder is a sac-shaped organ located on the right-hand side of the abdomen and sits underneath the liver. When a malignancy or tumor develops in the gallbladder, this is called gallbladder cancer. The abnormal uncontrolled growth of cells in a gallbladder cancer often disrupts the normal functioning of that organ.
Gallbladder cancer is infrequent and very few people will develop it during their lifetime. Most patients discovered to have gallbladder cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage when they show signs and symptoms of this disease. In contrast, patients may have no obvious signs or only minimally significance signs at the early stages of the disease. Depending on what stage of cancer is present within the gallbladder, the course of treatment may vary.
Patients with an advanced case of gallbladder cancer may be candidates for the combined approach of therapies when appropriate. Some patients can be managed with curative intent; however, if gallbladder cancer has advanced to an advanced stage and symptomatic, the treatment option will be that of palliative care measures.
Many factors have been associated with and influence an increased risk of developing gallbladder cancer; however, it can occur at random without any identified risk factors. Some patients will experience a spread of cancer from other sites in the body to the gallbladder; this condition is called metastatic cancer (from another source).
What Is Gallbladder Cancer?
Cancer of the Gallbladder is defined as the formation of malignant (cancerous) cells in the gallbladder, which is a pear-shaped organ located at the upper right portion of the abdomen (the upper segment of the abdominal cavity), underneath the liver, and houses the bile juice produced by the liver that helps break down fats contained in food consumed by an individual.
Gallbladder cancer forms in the innermost (mucosal) layer of the gallbladder and extends outwards through surrounding layers of the gallbladder wall. Therefore, in early stages of gallbladder cancer, there may not be visible signs or symptoms; however, during a surgical procedure performed on the gallbladder, most people are diagnosed with gallbladder cancer when doctors inadvertently discover gallbladder cancer.
When diagnosed early enough so that it can be surgically removed, the chance of recovery from gallbladder cancer is excellent; however, many patients are diagnosed relatively late in the course of their disease, after gallbladder cancer has metastasized outside of the gallbladder; gallbladder cancer is more challenging to cure when it has occurred outside of the gallbladder.
Types of Gallbladder Cancer:
Patients and their families will be able to make informed choices about the treatment they will receive by knowing what to expect from each phase of the progressive development of gallbladder cancer.
Here's a summary of the five phases of gallbladder cancer:
Gallbladder Cancers at Stage 0
- Also known as non-invasive cancers or in situ carcinoma, these cancers have not yet penetrated the body of the patient.
- At this stage of development, there is no sign or symptom that gallbladder cancer has occurred outside of the musculature of the gallbladder.
Stage 1 Gallbladder Cancer
- This is the earliest stage of gallbladder cancer when a tumour has penetrated the gallbladder but hasn't entered nearby lymph nodes or any other part of the body.
- The cancer is found entirely within the gallbladder and has not metastasised.
- Most patients may be candidates for surgical resection (removal of the tumour).
Stage 2 Gallbladder Cancer
- A diagnosis of Stage 2 Gallbladder Cancer indicates that the tumour has extended beyond the gallbladder to nearby tissue.
- While the procedure could still be performed, it is contingent upon the extent of spread to neighbouring tissues in either the abdominal cavity or to other organs such as the liver or bile duct.
Gallbladder Cancer at Stage 3
- Gallbladder Cancer Stage 3 is identified by the increase in Cancer's penetration into local lymph nodes and sometimes the penetration into other neighbouring organs.
- Cancer has penetrated through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity, impacting several structures and tissues.
- When it comes to Stage III Cancers of the Gallbladder, treatment can include surgical resection, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation therapy, or some combination of the above modalities, depending upon the patient and disease characteristics.
Gallbladder Cancer at Stage 4
- Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of the Disease, where the Cancer has metastasised to other distant parts of the body, including the Liver, Lungs, Bone, or other sites outside of the Abdomen.
- The Goal of Treatment at Stage IV should be palliative in focus, decreasing symptoms and improving the patient's Quality of Life.
Procedure:
Surgical Treatment
Surgery to remove the gallbladder (Cholecystectomy) is the primary treatment option for patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer while the cancer is contained within the organ. Surgery is typically the first-line therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that directly target and kill gallbladder tumor cells. These agents inhibit the growth of cancer. Chemotherapy may also be indicated following surgery to eliminate remaining tumor cells.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy also utilises high-energy X-rays or radiation that destroys cancerous tissues. Radiation can be utilised to decrease a tumour's mass before the surgical removal of the gall bladder.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted Therapy refers to the type of treatment where the goal is to target specific proteins in cancer cells that promote growth and replication of those cells. This drug specifically targets cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy cells.
Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials are designed for those who are in an experimental phase of their treatment, whereby these individuals will volunteer to test the effectiveness of their experimental treatment for their particular condition.
Palliative Care
Palliative Care is a management strategy for delivering comfort and support to individuals who have advanced gallbladder cancer by relieving their symptoms and improving their quality of life. For instance, it potentially relieves a patient of their pain and discomfort when they reach end-stage gallbladder cancer.
Best Doctors in India
Cost of Gallbladder Cancer in India
In India, gallbladder cancer treatment might cost anything from $3500 to $5000. The complexity of each case and the patient's state at the time of diagnosis can affect the price. The surgeon's skill level may also affect the cost.
Top Hospitals in India
Indications of Gallbladder Cancer:
Gallbladder cancer usually does not have any symptoms in the early stages. It is important to be aware of possible signs and symptoms that might occur when gallbladder cancer is present.
Here are a few potential signs and symptoms associated with gallbladder cancer:
- Persistent abdominal pain in the upper right side of the abdomen can indicate gallbladder cancer. Sometimes, the persistent abdominal pain will extend to the back or shoulder blades.
- A yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice, may occur if the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked by gallbladder cancer. As a result, the person may also have dark-coloured urine.
- In some situations, a lump or mass may be felt when palpating the abdomen, indicating a tumorous growth on or near the gallbladder.
- Unremitting nausea and vomiting, particularly in conjunction with abdominal pain or other signs, should not be disregarded.
- Sudden weight loss that cannot be accounted for through modifications in diet and/or activity levels may suggest a health problem, potentially indicative of gallbladder cancer. Consult with your physician if sudden weight loss is experienced.
- An ongoing fever without a reason or illness that can be directly linked with another disease should be evaluated by a physician.
- Abdominal swelling and distention can result from the accumulation of fluids from gallbladder cancer that has spread beyond the organ.
Risk Factors:
There is no known cause for gallbladder cancer, however, there are many factors that increase the likelihood that an individual will develop the disease.
Porcelain gallbladder - A porcelain gallbladder occurs when the gallbladder is completely calcified resulting in a "porcelain" wall and, as a result, will lead to an increased risk of developing gallbladder cancer.
Gallbladder polyp - A gallbladder polyp is an abnormal growth inside the gallbladder. Although many polyps are not medically significant, the adenoma type of polyp increases an individual's chance of getting gallbladder cancer.
Gender - Gallbladder cancer is found to occur more frequently in females than males for an unknown reason, although many researchers feel that hormonal factors may be involved.
Age - Most individuals with gallbladder cancer are older than 65 years.
Being part of certain ethnic groups: certain ethnic groups are at increased risk of developing gallbladder cancer in comparison to other ethnicities. For example, native americans and Hispanics living in the south asian countries of India and Pakistan have higher incidence rates than other ethnicities.
Having a bile duct disease: conditions affecting the bile duct (for example, bile duct diseases, cancers) will increase the risk of cancer of the gallbladder.
Primary sclerosis cholangitis: this chronic disease is a condition that affects the liver and causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts. It therefore increases your risk not only of developing liver cancer, but also gallbladder cancer.
Acute typhoid: a bacterial infection called Salmonella typhi that causes "acute typhoid fever" may be associated with an increased chance of gallbladder cancer development.
A family member has had gallbladder cancer: if one or more members of your immediate family have had gallbladder cancer, you may be at an elevated risk for developing gallbladder cancer as well.