Treatment for gallbladder cancer

Treatment for gallbladder or bile duct cancer may include surgery to remove the gallbladder, as well as radiation and chemotherapy sessions, which can be targeted when the cancer has metastasized, which means that the disease has spread to other areas of the body. body.

Treatment must be guided by an oncologist and usually varies according to the type, degree of development of the tumor and the patient's symptoms, and it is usually performed in Oncology Institutes, such as INCA, for example.

Can gallbladder cancer be cured?

Not all types of gallbladder cancer are curable, and in the most severe cases, only palliative care can be used to keep the patient comfortable and symptom free.

Gallbladder cancer surgery

Surgical treatment for gallbladder cancer is the main type of treatment used and is usually done to remove as much of the tumor as possible, and can be divided into 3 major types:

• Surgery to remove the bile duct: it is used when the cancer has not spread beyond the gallbladder and its channels and involves the complete removal of the organ; Partial hepatectomy: it is used when the cancer is close to the liver, it is recommended to remove, in addition to the vesicle, a small portion of the liver without side effects; Liver transplantation: consists of the complete removal of the liver and biliary system and liver transplantation by a healthy donor, and it is only used in the most severe cases, since there is a risk of the cancer reoccurring.

However, surgery is not always able to completely eliminate the tumor in the gallbladder and, therefore, it may be necessary to make a small tunnel inside the bile ducts to allow the passage of bile and relieve the patient's symptoms. Find out how recovery is from surgery at: When it is indicated and how is recovery from surgery to remove the gallbladder.

In these cases, the doctor may also advise you to have radiotherapy or chemotherapy to try to eliminate the remaining cancer cells.

Radiotherapy for gallbladder cancer

Radiotherapy for gallbladder cancer is usually used in the most advanced cases of the problem, in which it is not possible to remove the tumor only with surgery, to relieve the patient's symptoms, such as pain, persistent nausea and loss of appetite, for example..

Generally, radiotherapy is done through a machine, placed near the affected site, which emits radiation capable of destroying tumor cells. In order to achieve the desired result, it may be necessary to do several radiotherapy sessions, and in some cases, healing can only be achieved with radiotherapy.

Know the main side effects of this type of treatment at: Side effects of radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy for gallbladder cancer

Chemotherapy for gallbladder cancer can be done before surgery, to reduce the amount of cancer cells and facilitate the removal of the tumor, or after surgery, to eliminate the remaining tumor cells.

Usually, chemotherapy is done with the injection of drugs capable of preventing the multiplication of cancer cells, such as Cisplatin or Gemcitabine, directly into the vein, however, in some cases it can also be done with the ingestion of pills, presenting less side effects.

See the side effects of chemotherapy at: Side effects of chemotherapy.

Signs of improvement of gallbladder cancer

Signs of improvement in gallbladder cancer appear soon after surgery or the first cycles of radiation or chemotherapy treatment and include relief from abdominal pain, reduced nausea and increased appetite.

Signs of worsening gallbladder cancer

Signs of worsening of gallbladder cancer are more common in the more advanced stages of the disease and include increased pain, rapid weight loss, excessive thinness, constant tiredness, apathy or mental confusion, for example.