Although rare, cancer of the gallbladder is more likely to occur among women than men. The incidence per 100,000 population, during the period 1975-1985, was 1.7 for white women and 0.9 for white men. Gallbladder cancer was also elevated among Hispanic Americans, with women having a rate of 7.3, and men, l.7. Survivorship of patients with this cancer is poor, with less than 10 percent living more than five years after diagnosis.
Gallstones are by far the most important risk factor for gallbladder cancer.
American Indians and Hispanic Americans also have a high rate of gallstones. Presumably, controlling the formation of gallstones would reduce the number of individuals with gallbladder cancer. Men predominate in this uncommon cancer, with an incidence rate among whites of l.5 for men compared with l.0 for women. As with gallbladder cancer, there is little difference in occurrence between whites and blacks. Incidence rates for other biliary tract cancers have not changed appreciably in the last 20 years.