The gallbladder is a small organ that sits underneath the liver, just under the ribcage on the right side of the abdomen. It stores bile (a yellow liquid produced by the liver) and controls the flow of bile into the bowel. Bile carries waste from the liver and also helps digest food.

Early gallbladder cancer may not cause specific symptoms and may be diagnosed when the gallbladder has been removed (often for gallstones) or when an abdominal ultrasound or CT scan has been performed for another reason.

Symptoms of gallbladder cancer may include:

• Weight loss
• Pain in the right upper abdomen
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Jaundice (yellow discolouration of the eyes and skin) and itch

Each of these symptoms may also be caused by many conditions other than gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon disease. The cause of gallbladder cancer is not clear, however chronic inflammation from gallstones may play a role. However, most patients with gallstones do not develop gallbladder cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Older age
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
• Some gallbladder polyps
• Patients from regions where gallbladder cancer is more common (eg South America, some parts of India and Pakistan)
• Chronic inflammation of the gallbladder
• Smoking
• Obesity

Treatments for gallbladder cancer may include:

• Surgery to remove the gallbladder and part of the liver attached to the gallbladder
• Chemotherapy- medicines that kill cancer cells
• Radiotherapy- using radiation to kill cancer cells
• Stenting procedures to treat jaundice

When diagnosed and treated very early gallbladder cancer may be cured. However, as there are typically no specific signs or symptoms with early disease, it is often diagnosed only after it has spread and has become incurable. Even if cure if not possible, there are treatments available that may slow the cancer growth, extend life and improve symptoms. Your specialist will discuss with you the best treatment plan in your case based on the stage of your cancer and your fitness to undergo treatments options.