Gallbladder cancer – how to treat it?

Gallbladder cancer is an oncological pathology in which a neoplasm is formed from the tissues of the gallbladder. This is a fairly rare pathology, accounting for less than 5% of the total number of malignant diseases. More often the tumor forms in women aged 50-60 years.

At first, the neoplasm is most often localized in the neck and bottom of the gallbladder. It can then attack the liver, pancreas and other tissues. This is a rather complex disease, the likelihood of successful treatment of which is greatly reduced at later stages of development. However, accurate diagnosis with determination of the histological characteristics of the tumor and a personalized approach to treatment will significantly increase the possibilities of therapy and increase the chances of bringing the disease under control.

Causes of gallbladder cancer

The exact causes of this disease have not yet been determined. Among the factors that can provoke the development of this pathology are:

• unfavorable environmental conditions;
• poor nutrition (high carbohydrate and low fiber content in the diet, excess fatty and fried foods in the menu);
• smoking tobacco, alcohol abuse;
• prolonged contact with a number of toxic chemicals;
• genetic predisposition (diagnosed cancer in relatives);
• infestations by parasitic infections affecting the liver and pancreas;
• development of adenomatous polyps.

Gallbladder cancer can be preceded by a number of diseases, for example, cholelithiasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic cholecystitis, biliary cirrhosis. The likelihood of tumor formation in the gallbladder increases with congenital fibrosis and polycystic liver disease.

Symptoms and signs of gallbladder cancer

The peculiarities of the structure and location of the gallbladder lead to the fact that there are no early symptoms of gallbladder cancer. However, as the pathological neoplasm grows, typical symptoms of gallbladder oncology arise, which include:

• bloating, flatulence;
• pain in the abdominal area;
• decreased appetite;
• severe fatigue, constant weakness;
• sudden weight loss;
• nausea, possibly vomiting;
• itchy skin;
• yellow color of the skin and mucous membranes;
• the color of feces becomes light, and the color of urine becomes darker;
• low-grade fever.

As the liver becomes involved in the pathological process, jaundice develops, and liver failure appears and progresses. At the very later stages, ascites develops, and abdominal carcinomatosis may occur.

Classification of gallbladder tumors

In most cases, adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder is diagnosed. The formation of this tumor occurs in the epithelial layer of the gallbladder mucosa. Less commonly, in about 20%, squamous cell or small cell carcinoma is detected.

Quite rarely, sarcomas and carcinoids can occur in the gallbladder. Histological diagnosis is necessary to accurately determine the type of tumor.

Gallbladder cancer stages

Doctors distinguish several stages of pathology, each of which has characteristic features:

• The tumor development count starts from stage 0. During this period, abnormal cells have already appeared, but the process is still localized in the mucous layer of the bile duct. There are no visible signs of pathology.
• At the first stage, the tumor grows, but has not yet grown into muscle tissue.
• At the second stage, the smooth muscles of the gallbladder are involved in the oncological process.
• The third stage is characterized by tumor growth in the liver tissue and damage to nearby lymph nodes.
• At the fourth stage, blood vessels and liver are affected; metastases can be diagnosed in other organs, both close and far from the primary location of the pathology.

Where does gallbladder cancer metastasize?

When the disease progresses and begins to metastasize, the nearby lymph nodes are most often affected first, and the liver is affected. Then metastases can affect organs that are located at a distance from the tumor. Most often the duodenum and sections of the large intestine are affected. Abdominal carcinomatosis may develop. In addition, metastases can be found in the ovaries and bones.

Is gallbladder cancer visible on ultrasound?

Ultrasound diagnostics is the first stage in detecting pathology. It is able to detect a tumor, determine its location and approximate size. Often, a tumor is first detected by ultrasound during a routine examination or in the process of diagnosing other diseases.

This test allows doctors to get an idea of how far the tumor has spread and whether the liver is involved. There are direct and indirect signs of cancer; an experienced diagnostician knows them and can conclude about the presence of pathology based on the information received. If an ultrasound detects a neoplasm, as a rule, additional studies are prescribed that will allow an accurate diagnosis to be made.

Diagnosis of gallbladder cancer

Doctors usually prescribe a comprehensive examination to make an accurate diagnosis if cancer is suspected. In addition to ultrasound, the following diagnostic methods are most often used:

• CT and MRI. They help to find out what stage the tumor is at, what tissues are involved in the process, and accurately determine the size. Also, this type of diagnosis makes it possible to see the condition of the liver and pancreas, and to detect metastases located in other organs.
• Cholangiography. This is the study of the bile ducts using contrast agents. With its help, it is possible to find out additional information about the tumor and the condition of the biliary system.
• Laparoscopic examination. An invasive method that makes it possible to visually examine the area where the gallbladder is located and assess the condition of the tissues adjacent to the tumor. During the procedure, a biopsy is performed – a piece of pathological tissue is taken. This is important to determine the histology of gallbladder cancer, establish the type of tumor and obtain more complete information for subsequent selection of treatment.

What test shows gallbladder cancer?

Laboratory tests are usually prescribed when gall bladder cancer is detected. A standard blood test is performed to determine the levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase. Measurements of these liver parameters can indicate problems in the liver and biliary system.

Also, specific tests: analysis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tumor marker CA 19-9 can be prescribed if this type of cancer is suspected.

Laboratory tests also include the latest cancer diagnostic methods such as genetic testing. Using certain tests, it is possible to identify mutations in tumor genes and, based on this, select a treatment that will be effective specifically for this type of tumor. Today you can get tested in special laboratories in different countries of the world.

To get more information about the latest methods for diagnosing cancer and the possibility of conducting examinations in different countries, contact the MedTour coordinating doctor.

Prognosis: How long do people with gallbladder cancer live?

Prognosis for this pathology depends on the stage and type of tumor.

According to statistics, the five-year survival rate of patients is:

• at stage 1 – 70-80%;
• at stage 2 – 30-40%;
• at stage 3 – up to 20%;
• at stage 4 – about 3-8%.

However, much depends on the choice of treatment tactics. If you get to good oncologists and your treatment is personalized taking into account the specifics of the tumor, the prognosis can significantly improve.

Treatment of gallbladder cancer

The most common treatment involves surgery for a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. In addition, special medications are prescribed, and radiotherapy, immunotherapy and other methods are often used.

• Operation. During the operation, surgeons remove the gallbladder, surrounding tissue and, if necessary, certain lymph nodes. Currently, gallbladder removal can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. The surgeon makes an incision 0.5-1.5 centimeters wide and inserts a laparoscope through it, which allows the doctor to see the object being operated on and perform the operation with high precision. In later stages, palliative operations can be performed to alleviate the condition, for example, bypass surgery or stenting is performed to ensure the flow of bile into the intestines.
• Chemotherapy. It can be used as an independent method in the later stages of treatment. Or this technique can be used as part of a comprehensive treatment after surgery to destroy single cancer cells that may have remained after tumor removal. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously or locally to the area where the tumor is located.
• Radiotherapy (radiation therapy). Irradiation of the tumor can be performed before surgery, or after surgery the area where the tumor is located is irradiated. Radiotherapy can also be used in combination with chemotherapy in the final stages as maintenance treatment. For gallbladder tumors, intraoperative brachytherapy can be prescribed, when the radiation source is located in the area of the tumor.
• Targeted therapy. Accurate laboratory diagnostics together with the determination of tumor mutations allow oncologists to select targeted drugs individually for each patient. This makes it possible to target cancer cells and obtain good results in the later stages of the disease.
• Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy involves the use of drugs whose task is to include a person’s own immune system in the fight against cancer. The latest effective developments in this area include cancer vaccines. For example, an antitumor autovaccine is made from the tumor’s own cells. This makes it possible to create a drug that demonstrates high efficiency, both when treated in combination with other methods, and after a course of treatment to prevent relapses.

It is possible to obtain more detailed information about the possibilities of vaccination with cancer vaccines, the use of targeted therapy and other treatment methods from the MedTour coordinating doctor.

The best clinics for the treatment of gallbladder oncology

The MedTour platform works with the best clinics for the treatment of gallbladder cancer. We cooperate with large centers, university clinics, private medical institutions from around the world, we know who specializes in the treatment of pathologies of this type, what methods and protocols are used by certain clinics and what results they achieve.

The MedTour coordinator will provide you with detailed information on clinics, tell you the nuances of applying for treatment abroad, and advise you on prices.

The best doctors for treating gallbladder tumors

It is important to find the best specialists in this field so that the treatment is as productive as possible. You can do this using the MedTour website. We will help you choose a doctor who has extensive clinical experience and uses the latest methods for treating tumors of the biliary system.

Contact us to receive comprehensive information on doctors as part of a free consultation and make the best choice of specialist for your needs.