If the cancer has spread and cannot be removed, the doctor may do surgery to relieve symptoms. During this operation, the doctor will cut the gallbladder or bile duct and sew it to the small intestine. This is called biliary bypass. During these procedures, the doctor may place the catheter so that it drains through a tube to the outside of the body or so that it goes around the blocked area and drains the bile into the small intestine. Radiation may be used alone or in addition to surgery.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy for cancer of the gallbladder is usually put into the body by a needle inserted into a vein. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells outside the gallbladder. Treatment by stage Treatments for cancer of the gallbladder depend on the stage of the disease and the patient's general health. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Most patients with gallbladder cancer are not cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.