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.
About this Cancer
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) lists gallbladder cancer statistics with “other cancers” in its yearly updates. In 2018, 435 Canadians were diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, and in 2020, 294 Canadians died from the disease. Gallbladder cancer numbers were not tracked by CCS in their 2023 update.
Symptoms of gallbladder cancer may include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Jaundice (generally when the cancer is quite advanced)
- Belly pain, particularly in the upper region
- Bloating of the belly
- A lump that you can feel through the skin
For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic.
Risk factors for gallbladder cancer may include:
- Prior gallstones
- Older age
- Female sex
- Other gallbladder health issues (for ex: polyps, infections, inflammation)
- Bile duct inflammation
For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic.
The following may be used to diagnose gallbladder cancer:
- Liver function test
- CT/MRI scans
- Abdominal/endoscopic ultrasound
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: X-ray that captures images of the bile ducts
- Biopsy
- Laparoscopy
For more information, visit the Cleveland Clinic.
Treatment for gallbladder cancer may include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
For more information, please visit the Mayo Clinic.
Stories from Survivors
There are currently no gallbladder cancer stories.
Resources
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
Gallbladder Cancer Groups
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.
- United States: