Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease that starts in the cells of the inner layer of the gallbladder, a small organ that located under the liver on the right side of the body. For a brief video overview of the cancer, click here.

Gallbladder and bile duct cancer are often linked together due to their proximity to one another. For more information about bile duct cancer, click here.

The most common symptom of gallbladder cancer is abdominal pain that doesn’t go away. Other signs and symptoms include:
  • nausea and vomiting
  • not able to tolerate fatty foods
  • loss of appetite
  • fever and chills
Advanced stages of gallbladder cancer may cause other symptoms including:
  • jaundice
  • itching
  • weight loss
  • tenderness on the right side of the upper abdomen
  • bloating or swelling of the abdomen because of the tumour or a buildup of bile – sometimes the doctor can feel a gallbladder that is larger than normal (enlarged) during a physical exam
  • increase in the size of the liver
  • buildup of fluid in the abdomen (called ascites)
The information on this page was provided by the Canadian Cancer Society. For other sources of information on this cancer, see below:

If you have any of these conditions, you may be at a higher risk for gallbladder cancer:
  • Gallstones
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Choledochal cysts
  • Abnormalities of the pancreaticobiliary duct junction
  • Bacterial infection
  • Porcelain gallbladder
  • Obesity
  • Polyps
The information for this page was provided by the Canadian Cancer Society. For other sources of information, see below:

For the most up-to-date information on treatment, please find some resources below.

For the latest in treatment options, please take a look at the following information:

There are currently no gallbladder cancer stories.

No resources currently exist for this cancer. If you run a support group or offer aid to gallbladder cancer patients, please connect with us at info@survivornet.ca

Due to the rarity of gallbladder and bile duct cancers, no Canadian groups currently exist. While there are no groups specifically surrounding gallbladder cancer, some institutions, like the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, deal in clinical trials and research. Other inquires can be submitted to the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders.