Overview
What is gallbladder cancer?
Gallbladder cancer is a rare cancer that affects the digestive system.
- Gallbladder cancer is a cancer that's found anywhere in the gallbladder.
- The gallbladder is a small organ in the top part of your tummy that helps you digest your food.
- Gallbladder cancer is often found when someone is having treatment for another condition, such as gallstones.
- How serious gallbladder cancer is depends on where it is in the gallbladder, how big it is, if it has spread and your general health.
It is important to get any symptoms of gallbladder cancer checked as soon as possible.
The Cancer Research UK website has more information about the different types of gallbladder cancer.
Symptoms
Main symptoms of gallbladder cancer
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 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 is 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.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 Wales if:
- the whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow
- you're being sick for more than 2 days
- you have symptoms of gallbladder cancer that you're worried about, but are not sure where to get help
111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.
Go to 111.wales.nhs.uk
See a GP if you have:
- 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 of using your usual treatments
Important
Many of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions.
Having them does not definitely mean you have gallbladder cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.
This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it earlier makes it more treatable.
What happens at the GP appointment
The GP may feel your tummy.
They may ask you to have a blood test.
The GP may refer you to see a specialist in hospital for more tests if they think you have a condition that needs to be investigated.
This may be an urgent referral, usually within 2 weeks, if you have certain symptoms. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.
Find out more
Cancer Research UK: seeing a GP for symptoms that could be caused by gallbladder cancer
Causes
Who is more likely to get gallbladder cancer
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.
How to lower your chance of getting gallbladder cancer
You cannot always prevent gallbladder cancer. But making healthy changes can lower your chances of getting it.
It's important to get any symptoms of gallbladder cancer checked by a GP.
Anyone can get gallbladder cancer, even if you do not think you have a higher chance of getting it.
Tests and next steps
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.
Getting your results
It can take several weeks to get the results of your tests.
Try not to worry if your results are taking a long time to get to you. It does not definitely mean anything is wrong.
You can call the hospital or GP if you are worried. They should be able to update you.
A specialist will explain what the results mean and what will happen next. You may want to bring someone with you for support.
If you're told you have gallbladder cancer
Being told you have gallbladder cancer can feel overwhelming. You may be feeling anxious about what will happen next.
Gallbladder cancer is sometimes found when you are having an operation to remove your gallbladder.
This might be because you have another condition, such as gallstones.
You might have been having tests and scans after being referred to a specialist by a GP.
A group of specialists will look after you throughout your diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
Your team will include a clinical nurse specialist who will be your main point of contact during and after treatment.
You can ask them any questions you have.
Get support
Macmillan Cancer Support has a free helpline that's open every day from 8 am to 8 pm.
They're there to listen if you have anything you want to talk about.
Call 0808 808 00 00
Next steps
If you're told you have gallbladder cancer, the specialists will use the results of some of the tests and scans to help find out the size of the cancer and how far it's spread (called the stage).
You may need to have more tests done.
Find out more about stages of gallbladder cancer from Cancer Research UK
The specialists will use the results of these tests and work with you to decide on the best treatment plan for you.
Find out more
Macmillan Cancer Support: information and support if you've just been diagnosed with cancer
Treatment
Main treatments for gallbladder cancer
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 are worried about, talk to your specialists. You do not need to wait for your next check-up.
Surgery
Your treatment will depend on if the cancer can be removed or not.
Surgery to remove gallbladder cancer
If gallbladder cancer is found early and it has not spread, you may be able to have surgery to remove it.
This will usually involve removing all of the gallbladder, as well as parts of other organs or lymph nodes around it. Lymph nodes are part of your body's immune system.
Find out more
Cancer Research UK: surgery that aims to cure gallbladder cancer
Surgery to help control symptoms of gallbladder cancer
If the cancer has spread too far and cannot be removed, you may have surgery to help control some symptoms of gallbladder cancer.
This can include surgery to:
- unblock the bile duct or stop it getting blocked, which helps with jaundice
- bypass a blockage in the bile duct, this helps with jaundice and feeling or being sick
The aim of these operations is to help improve your symptoms, not to cure the cancer.
Find out more
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells.
You may have chemotherapy for gallbladder cancer:
- before surgery to help make the cancer smaller
- after surgery to get rid of any remaining cancer and help stop the cancer coming back
- to help make the cancer smaller, and control and improve the symptoms if you are not able to have surgery because you are very unwell, or the cancer cannot be removed by surgery
Find out more
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays of radiation to kill cancer cells.
You may have radiotherapy:
- after surgery to help stop your cancer from coming back
- to help control and improve the symptoms of advanced cancer
Find out more
What happens if you've been told your cancer cannot be cured
If you have advanced gallbladder cancer it might be very hard to treat. It may not be possible to cure the cancer.
If this is the case, the aim of your treatment will be to limit the cancer and its symptoms, and help you live longer.
Finding out the cancer cannot be cured can be very hard news to take in.
You will be referred to a special team of doctors and nurses called the palliative care team or symptom control team.
They will work with you to help manage your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable.
The clinical nurse specialist or palliative care team can also help you and your loved ones get any support you need.
Find out more
Macmillan Cancer Support: end of life care.
Support
Where to find help and support
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.
Cancer Research UK
Information and support for anyone affected by cancer.
Maggie's
Practical, emotional and social support for anyone affected by cancer.
Marie Curie
Care and support for anyone affected by a terminal illness.
The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by 
NHS website nhs.uk
Last Updated:
01/05/2024 11:45:30