According to the American Cancer Society, cancer of the gallbladder is the fourth most common cancer arising from the gastrointestinal tract, representing approximately two to three percent of all cancers in the United States. This cancer is most prevalent in people in their late sixties and early seventies, with a slight female predominance. Although some individuals may not have any symptoms, others may experience significant pain, weight loss, an abdominal mass on the right side below the rib cage, or jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin. Your health care provider's examination can determine if additional tests or surgery is required.
Surgical removal depends on whether the cancer has spread to local tissues.
When the growth is not removable, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may slow or arrest the growth of the cancer and improve the symptoms associated with the disease.