Treatment for gallbladder cancer depends on the stage of the cancer at time of first diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, most treatments take into account the stage of the gallbladder cancer and the patient's overall health. Treatments vary from surgical removal of the cancer to the utilization of various drugs. Each treatment modality is targeted against a specific stage of gallbladder cancer.
Localized Gallbladder Cancer
Localized gallbladder cancer means any cancer that is solely found in the gallbladder. There may be slight extension to the ducts surrounding the organ, but there should be no metastasis greater than that.
The National Cancer Institute reports that the major treatment for this localized gallbladder cancer is surgery to remove the gallbladder and the tissue around it. Other nearby organs such as the liver or lymph nodes may also be excised. Some doctors may also decide to treat the patient with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or both. There have been new clinical trials with drugs called radiosensitizers. These drugs increase the efficacy of radiation therapy.
Unresectable Gallbladder Cancer
Unresectable is a medical term that describes cancers that are too widespread to remove surgically. An attempt to remove all of the tumors would prove fatal to the patient and probably still miss small areas of cancerous lesions.
Treatments for gallbladder cancer that cannot be surgically removed are usually for palliative purposes only. Unresectable cancers are usually late-stage cancers that have already caused too much damage. The Mayo Clinic states that, in such cases, palliative care, or care that extends life for as long as possible and lessens the symptoms of the disease, is the only recourse.
The American Cancer society reports on many such palliative treatments. These treatments include the placement of a biliary tube or stent, which will help relieve the pressure of a mass that is obstructing the outflow of the gallbladder. This will lessen the pain and jaundice experienced by the patient. Another treatment is using chemotherapy or radiation to decrease the size of the mass. The cancer will not be cured, but the decreased size will improve the patient's quality of life.
The National Cancer Institute does recommend some possible curative treatment solutions. These treatments have not yet been adequately tested, but, by using various combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, these treatments may be able to cure even late-stage gallbladder cancer.
Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer
If gallbladder cancer is found in a patient who has already been successfully treated for gallbladder cancer, the new cancer is termed "recurrent cancer." The National Cancer Institute's only listed treatment regimen for this type of cancer is a series of clinical trials that use radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
