GALLBLADDER CANCER (GBH)

Gallbladder cancer, one of the most fatal kinds of cancer, starts in the gallbladder. It is characterised by abnormal cell development that originates in the gallbladder. The gallbladder, which is 
placed under the liver on the right side of the stomach, is a tiny, pear-shaped organ which 
concentrates and stores bile, a chemical produced by the liver that assists digestion. 

Gallstones are tiny, hard lumps which form when there is an increase in cholesterol, bilirubin (a pigment created when red blood cells break down) and other materials in the bile. Unless intercepted and removed on time, gallstones raise the risk of gallbladder cancer substantially. A mass, or tumour, occurs when the number of cancer cells rapidly grows. These cells will ultimately expand into neighbouring tissue and to distant sections of the body if not addressed on time. Get a better overview of gallbladder cancer from your local gastroenterologist, type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar.

There are three stages of Gallbladder Cancer: 

• Stage One: Local, which indicates that the cancer has spread which has a 5-year relative survival of 66%.
• Stage Two: Regional, which denotes that the cancer has progressed to lymph nodes or other tissues around the gallbladder. Intervention at this stage has a 5-year survival rate of 28%.
• Stage Three: Distant, which means that the cancer has metastasized far throughout the body. Intervention at this stage sadly has a 5-year survival rate of only 2%.

If you suspect gallbladder cancer in yourself or your loved one, type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar, to help you diagnose what stage of GBC you are currently on.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GALL BLADDER CANCER IN INDIA

1. Although gallbladder cancer is rare worldwide, India is a high incidence area for gallbladder cancer (GBC) and accounts for approximately 10% of the worldwide GBC burden.
2. Within India, the incidence is highest in the north, north-east, central, and eastern regions, and is lower in South and West India.

1. Most GBC patients in India are younger (with the average age being average age being 51 +/-11 years), and the male: female ratio was 0.36:1.00.
2. As it is rare and incidental to have gallbladder cancer detected at an early stage, most GBC patients in India have an advanced form of this disease with no option to remove it surgically. 

Statistics do not lie, your doctor can give you more of an insight about the epidemiology of GBC in your locality. To book an appointment today, type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar.

RISK FACTORS

1. Presence of Gallstones which are not removed on time: 80% of GBC cases in India are a result of gallstones. 
2. Gender: Gallbladder cancer is more prevalent in women. 
3. Age: Risk of GBC increases with advancing age, 
4. Environmental factors and lifestyle factors: Lower socio-economic level, soil and water contamination by industrial wastes, agricultural effluents and human sewage, exposure to 
   pollutants, heavy metals, chemicals, contaminated mustard oil, and smoking have all been 
   linked to carcinogenesis in gallstone sufferers.
5. Presence of diseases and infections such as chronic Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) infection, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, bile duct inflammation, or Primary sclerosin cholangitis, which causes inflammation of the ducts that drain bile from the gallbladder and liver – all these raise the risk of gallbladder cancer. Other gallbladder illnesses and disorders: Polyps, persistent inflammation, and infection are other gallbladder diseases that might raise the risk of gallbladder cancer. A toxic environment, vulnerable GB, and a susceptible host all play important roles in the pathogenesis of GBC in the country.If you are at risk of developing GBC, type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar.

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer appear only at a very advanced stage (after metastasis to nearby lymph nodes and organs), which is why early detection is so difficult. 

1. Jaundice: When the tumour becomes large enough to clog the bile ducts, preventing bile from the liver from draining into the intestines. This can cause bilirubin, a greenish-yellow substance found in bile, to accumulate in the blood and settle in various regions of the body, causing jaundice. It is an indicator of cancer in its advanced stage.
2. Abdominal pain in the upper right part of the abdomen.
3. Ascites, which is the swelling of the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid. 
4. Abdominal bloating when the gallbladder enlarges due to blocked bile ducts which prevent removal of bile, or the cancer spreads to the liver and lumps form in your upper right belly. 
5. Drastic weight loss
6. Nausea, vomiting 
7. Continued constipation
8. Dark urine
9. Loss of appetite
10. Malaise

If you are showing many of the symptoms listed above, you may be at an advanced stage of Gallbladder Cancer. Book an appointment today with an expert gastroenterologist. Type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar.

COMPLICATIONS

1. Liver failure
2. Cholestatic jaundice
3. Death

To avoid complications from gallbladder cancer, do not hesitate to get treatment today. Type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar.

TREATMENT

• Complete removal of the cancer is necessary for curing gallbladder cancer. However, because it is so difficult to diagnose this disease in the early stages, statistics from the ACS show only about 1 in 5 people got a diagnosis before the cancer has spread. 
• Chemotherapy and radiation are frequently used to ensure that all malignancy remains 
  following surgery. It is also used to treat non removable gallbladder cancer. It cannot cure 
  cancer, but it can extend life and relieve symptoms.
• In case of advanced gallbladder cancer, the only treatment feasible is palliative care, which can include surgery to relieve symptoms, pain medication, nausea medication, oxygen, blood and plasma transfusion, and placing a tube, or stent, in the bile duct to keep it open so it can drain and reduce the swelling.

Your doctor will prescribe the right treatment to treat your Gallbladder cancer, depending on its progression. Type “gastroenterologist in Guwahati” in Google search bar.

PREVENTION

1. Maintain a healthy weight
2. Consume fibre-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and peas, and whole grains such as brown rice, oats, and whole wheat bread. Avoid or limit your consumption of refined processed carbs, bad fats, and sugar. To assist your gallbladder contract and empty on a regular basis, consume healthy fats such as fish oil and olive oil.
3. Move a lot, and do not keep sitting or lying down for long stretches of time.
4. Reduce alcohol intake.

To consult your doctor for the best gut health and preventive measures for GBC, type “gastroenterologist in guwahati” in Google search bar.

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