Gallbladder Cancer
November 22, 2024
This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Laleh Melstrom, M.D., M.S., associate professor of surgery and immuno-oncology, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte
Cancer of the gallbladder — the organ where bile is concentrated and stored to help the liver digest fats — is very rare. Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect early because symptoms typically don't develop until the cancer has grown significantly.
The gallbladder is located just beneath the liver, to the right of the abdomen. This small, pear-shaped organ stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. It is hard to diagnose gallbladder cancer because early symptoms are difficult to recognize. Another challenge is the location of the gallbladder — cancer can spread quickly without detection since it's located deep inside the body.
Patients may not experience gallbladder cancer until the disease is at an advanced stage, but when symptoms do occur, they may include abdominal pain and jaundice. Patients may also have difficulty keeping food down, and in some cases may feel like they need to vomit.
Detecting gallbladder cancer early — before it has a chance to grow and spread — is crucial to successful treatment. Although there are no screening guidelines for this cancer, it can be detected during a patient’s annual physical exam. If blood tests reveal abnormal liver enzymes, positive results on follow-up tests — and ruling out other diseases — may indicate gallbladder cancer.
Surgery is often the primary treatment for gallbladder cancer. It may be curative for early-stage gallbladder cancer patients, improve survival outcomes and reduce discomfort for advanced gallbladder cancer patients. Other forms of treatment include radiation and drug therapies.
City of Hope patients have access to gallbladder clinical trials, including new chemotherapy, targeted and hormone therapies, surgical techniques, radiation therapy approaches and prevention strategies.
Our supportive care continues long after treatment is complete. At City of Hope, we have an unmatched reputation for coordinated, compassionate care.
Our Gallbladder Cancer Expertise
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