Gallbladder cancer

Symptoms of gallbladder cancer can include your eyes or skin turning yellow, losing weight, a lump or pain in your tummy and feeling or being sick.

Anyone can get gallbladder cancer. Women, people over 75 and those with other conditions affecting the gallbladder may be more likely to get it.

Gallbladder cancer can be diagnosed using tests such as blood tests, scans, a biopsy or a small operation called a laparoscopy.

Treatment for gallbladder cancer depends on your situation. You may have surgery, chemotherapy, targeted medicines or immunotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Gallbladder cancer may not have any symptoms, or they might be hard to spot.

Symptoms of gallbladder cancer include:

• the whites of your eyes turning yellow or your skin turning yellow, which may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice) – you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
• loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
• a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery
• a lump in your tummy

Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as:

• feeling or being sick
• aching pain in the right side of your tummy, sometimes described as a "dragging feeling"
• sharp pain in your tummy
• a very swollen tummy that's not related to when you eat

If you have another condition like irritable bowel syndrome you may get symptoms like these regularly.

You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you.

• a lump in your tummy
• lost a noticeable amount of weight
• symptoms of gallbladder cancer, such as pain or swelling in your tummy, that get worse or do not get better after 2 weeks
• a condition that causes symptoms with your digestion, and your symptoms are not getting better after 2 weeks using your usual treatments

Anyone can get gallbladder cancer. It's not always clear what causes it.

You might be more likely to get it if you:

• are over the age of 75 – it's most common in people over 85
• are a woman
• have certain medical conditions, such as gallstones, growths (polyps) in your gallbladder, porcelain gallbladder, abnormal bile ducts, long-term swelling of the gallbladder or bile ducts, or diabetes
• have a brother, sister or parent who had gallbladder cancer
• have Latin American or Asian heritage

Many gallbladder cancers are linked to your lifestyle.

You cannot always prevent gallbladder cancer. But making healthy changes can lower your chances of getting it.

• try to lose weight if you're overweight

• try to cut down on alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 units a week

• try to quit smoking

You'll need more tests and scans to check for gallbladder cancer if the GP refers you to a specialist.

These tests can include:

• blood tests
• scans, like an ultrasound scan (sometimes from inside your body using an endoscope), CT scan, PET scan, MRI scan, or a type of X-ray called a cholangiography
• collecting a small sample of cells from the gallbladder (called a biopsy) to be checked for cancer
• a small operation to look inside your tummy, called a laparoscopy
• a test called an ERCP – find out more about ERCP from Cancer Research UK

You may not have all these tests.

These tests can also help find problems in other nearby organs, such as your bile ducts, pancreas or liver.

Gallbladder cancer is often treatable, but it can be difficult to treat.

The treatment you have will depend on:

• the size and type of gallbladder cancer you have
• where it is
• if it has spread
• your general health

It may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The specialist care team looking after you will:

• explain the treatments, benefits and side effects
• work with you to create a treatment plan that is best for you
• help you manage any side effects, including changes to your diet to help you digest your food

You'll have regular check-ups during and after any treatments. You may also have tests and scans.

If you have any symptoms or side effects that you're worried about, talk to your specialists. You do not need to wait for your next check-up.

If you have gallbladder cancer you and your loved ones will be supported throughout your treatment by a clinical nurse specialist and a group of specialists.

The clinical nurse specialist, or another member of your specialist team, will be able to give you information on local support services that you may find helpful.

There are also national cancer charities that offer support and information about gallbladder cancer.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Information and support for anyone affected by cancer.

• Website: www.macmillan.org.uk
• Helpline: 0808 808 00 00
• Macmillan Cancer Support: support line service
• Macmillan Cancer Support: online community
• Macmillan Cancer Support: find local support services

Cancer Research UK

Information and support for anyone affected by cancer.

• Website: www.cancerresearchuk.org
• Nurse helpline: 0808 800 4040
• Cancer Research UK: ask a nurse service
• Cancer Research UK: online cancer chat forum
• Cancer Research UK: find a clinical trial service

Maggie's

Practical, emotional and social support for anyone affected by cancer.

• Website: www.maggies.org
• Helpline: 0300 123 1801
• Maggie's centres

Marie Curie

Care and support for anyone affected by a terminal illness.

• Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk
• Helpline: 0800 090 2309
• Marie Curie: support services