Gallbladder Cancer Center

Cancer of the gallbladder, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that lies just under the liver in the upper abdomen. Bile, a fluid made by the liver that helps to digest fat, is stored in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is actually and extension of the bile duct that carries bile from the liver to the intestine.

Cancer of the gallbladder is three times more common in women than in men. It is also more common in people who have hard clusters of material in their gallbladder called gallstones. Gallbladder cancer is hard to diagnose because that organ is hidden behind others organs in the upper abdomen. It is sometimes found after the gallbladder is removed for other reasons.

If you have been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, your physicians at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) may be able to determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Treatment for cancer of the gallbladder depends on the location, size, type and stage of the disease, how long you have had gallbladder cancer symptoms, your age and general health.

At CTCA, our physicians use many tools to help you fight gallbladder cancer on all fronts. A powerful combination of traditional and new/innovative therapies are provided by our cancer experts, who work with you to determine the appropriate combination of therapies that are right for you. These may include:

• Surgery to remove the gallbladder, called a cholecystectomy, is the most common treatment for gallbladder cancer, since your gallbladder is not a vital (essential for life) organ. Your surgeon may also remove part of the liver around the gallbladder and lymph nodes in the abdomen. If the tumor cannot be entirely removed without damage to the surrounding tissue, radiation or chemotherapy may also be used to treat the remaining cancer cells.
• Fractionated-dose chemotherapy divides a powerful dose of chemo drugs into smaller doses, given over several days. This approach exposes cancer cells to the drugs for a longer period of time, while also seeking to reduce the unpleasant side effects often experienced with larger doses.
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of conformal radiotherapy. IMRT employs a powerful, advanced computer program that helps us to plan a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions, based on individual tumor size, shape and location. Remarkably, it allows for radiation doses up to 40 percent higher than traditional radiotherapy methods, while sparing close to 70 percent more of the surrounding healthy tissue.

In addition to the therapies described above, CTCA enriches your treatment by offering complementary and alternative therapies, including naturopathic medicine, nutrition therapy, mind-body medicine, image enhancement and spiritual counseling. Over all, CTCA is with you every step of the way in what is truly the fight of your life.

Next Topic: Conventional Gallbladder Cancer Treatments