Know Your Disease
Gallbladder Cancer
Basics of Gallbladder Cancer
Gallbladder cancer is a type of cancer in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the gallbladder tissue. Located close to the liver, a gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that collects and stores bile. Cancer occurs when healthy gallbladder cells begin to grow at an abnormal rate and turn into tumours. Because the gallbladder is located inside the body, it is difficult to diagnose during regular medical examinations, says the best gallbladder cancer doctor in Kolkata.
Symptoms
According to the best gallbladder cancer surgeon in Kolkata, here are some of the symptoms of gallbladder cancer that one can experience:
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Jaundice
- Nausea and vomiting
- Flatulence
- Abdominal lumps
- High fever
- Loss of appetite
- Itchy skin
- Thick, dark urine
Causes
Although the causes of gallbladder cancer are unknown, the following factors may increase the risk of developing the disease:
- Inflammation of the gallbladder, which is also called cholecystitis
- The majority of gallbladder cancer patients are in the upper age group, i.e., over 65 years.
- Family history of gallbladder or gallbladder cancer.
- Colloidal cysts (congenital bile duct incompatibilities) with abnormalities in the connection between the bile duct and the pancreas.
- Excessive use of tobacco and increased exposure to industrial chemicals with nitrosamines.
- Foods with high carbohydrates and low fibre content.
- Diabetes and obesity.
- Hormone replacement therapy.
- Typhoid can increase the risk of gallbladder cancer in people infected with Salmonella.
- Other gallbladder conditions such as polyps, primary sclerosing cholangitis, porcelain gallbladder, chronic gallbladder infections and more.
Treatment
Once gallbladder cancer is diagnosed and staged, the doctor will begin treatment. Options for the treatment of gallbladder cancer depend on many factors, including the stage of the cancer, the patient’s health, and possible side effects. The following are the treatment
options for gallbladder cancer:
Surgery – Cancer is removed by surgery. Gallbladder cancer surgery in Kolkata can be divided into:
- Cholecystectomy – This involves the removal of the gallbladder. This is a common treatment option for the treatment of gallbladder cancer and other conditions.
- Radical Gallbladder Resection – It requires an oncologist in Kolkata to remove the gallbladder, liver tissue near the gallbladder, normal bile ducts, ligaments, pancreas, and blood vessels. If the cancerous cells have rapidly spread to different parts of the body, doctors can remove that part of the body as well.
Radiation Therapy – It uses high-powered X-rays or other particles to damage cancer cells. The method of radiation therapy consists of the number of treatments given over a specific period of time. Further, it can be used to compress the tumor before surgery or to destroy the remaining cancer cells, if any, after it.
Chemotherapy – The drug is used to destroy cancer cells and inhibit their ability to grow and divide. As it is systemic therapy, drugs enter the bloodstream to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Like radiation, chemotherapy can be given to shrink a tumor before surgery or to kill any cancer cells after it.
Palliative Therapy – This therapy is used to control or reduce the symptoms caused by advanced gallbladder cancer. Although it does not cure cancer, the patient feels better and further complications are prevented. It can be further divided into a number of gallbladder cancer treatment types in Kolkata such as biliary stent or biliary catheter, biliary bypass and alcohol injection.