Overview
Gallbladder
is an organ under the liver that stores bile juice which helps in
digestion of food. Gallbladder
cancer occurs when the cells
around the gallbladder grow uncontrollably forming lumps known as
tumor. This type of cancer is however very rare. In treating
gallbladder cancer, there are a team of doctors which include;
surgeons, medical oncologists,
radiation oncologists and gastroenterologist.
Like
many other types of cancer, gallbladder
cancer causes
is not yet known but there are however several elements that can
increase chances of getting it.However, having one or more of these
gallbladder risk factors
may not necessary put one at the risk
of gallbladder cancer. They
include;
Smoking
Smoking
of cigarettes and inhaling tobacco substances may increase the risk
of having cancer of the gallbladder.
Gallstones
and inflammation
Gallstones
are the main gallbladder cancer
risk factor for getting
gallbladder cancer. They are cholesterols found in the gallbladder or
bile duct.
Age
Older
people of over 70 years are mostly diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.
Gender
Women
are mostly diagnosed with gallbladder cancer compared to men.
Family
history
Though
not often, family history slightly increases the risk of gallbladder
cancer.
Gallbladder
signs and symptoms
Cancer
of the gallbladder may not show signs and symptoms at an early stage
as the gallbladder is located deep inside the body. Its therefore
difficult to detect it by physical examinations, In most cases its
realized after the removal of gallbladder due to other conditions
like gallstones and infections.
When
the signs occur, they include;
Jaundice
This
is when the whites of the eyes and the skin become yellow.
Abdominal
pains
Another
common symptom of gallbladder cancer is sharp pains in the abdomen.
Nausea
and vomiting.
People
with gallbladder cancer in the early stages will experience nausea
and vomiting.
Bloating
The
patient will experience abnormal gas swelling causing the stomach to
feel full and tight.
Fever.
This
symptom explains the rise of temperature above the normal body
temperature.
A
lump in the Abdomen
One
suffering gallbladder cancer can feel a lump in the abdomen.
Anyone
experiencing the above stated gallbladder symptoms should immediately
consult the doctor for diagnosis to determine the
cause since these signs and
symptoms could be linked to other medical conditions.
3
Safe Gallbladder Cancer Treatment Options
Although
it’s a rare cancer, gallbladder
cancer at times causes death if
not diagnosed and treated early. Gallbladder cancer has several
treatment options
and recommendations depending on some factors which include;
-
Type and stage of cancer
-
Possible side effects
-
Patient’s overall health and preferences
The
following are the recommended treatments of gallbladder cancer;
Chemotherapy
The
patient is administered with drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is done in specific number of cycles given over specific
duration. This medication is either a pill or capsule, by injection
or a tube (intravenous (IV) tube).At times chemotherapy is combined
with radiation therapy .Chemotherapy may also be recommended after a
tumor has been removed through surgery.
Radiation
Therapy
Here
x-rays of high energy are used to destroy cancer cells. This form of
treatment is also used before surgery to shrink the size of tumor or
after surgery to destroy any remaining stubborn cancer cells.
Occasionally ,it’s also used during surgery to directly show tumor
to avoid wrong target and protect unaffected organs from being
affected during the treatment.
A specialist of Radiation Therapy is known as Radiation
oncologist.
Surgery
Surgery
involves removal of the tumor and the surrounding endangered tissue
by operation. This is done by a professional called surgical
oncologist. Surgery is done in different ways.
Cholecystectomy-here
the gallbladder and liver tissue next to it is removed.
Palliative
surgery-this is done partially
to relieve some of the conditions that gallbladder
cancer causes, for example
removal of blockage of intestines and relieve bleeding.
Radical
gallbladder resection-this is a
process of removing the gallbladder, some section of the liver around
the gallbladder, the bile duct and a section or all the ligaments
between the liver and intestines.
Conclusion
Gallbladder
Cancer treatment has various
side effects depending on the treatment
option, the common ones however
include fatigue, damage to nearby organs like liver and intestines,
risk of infection, nausea and
vomiting, hair loss and loss of appetite. These effects go away after
treatment. Palliative care is given to reduce symptoms, support
patients and their families during the treatment process.
It’s
important to talk to a healthcare team before treatments on the best
gallbladder treatment
option
and the possible side effects of specific treatment
and the palliative care options.
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