Treatments for early-stage gallbladder cancer

 

Gallbladder cancer occurs when malignant cells start growing in the gallbladder due to changes in the genetic instructions that govern the  healthy cells in our body. It begins in the inner layer of the gallbladder and spreads to other organs over time. Below, the best gallbladder cancer doctor in Kolkata has discussed the stages in which this cancer develops and its treatments in the early stages. 

Stages of gallbladder cancer:

Cancer staging is a crucial tool for doctors to assess whether cancer has spread beyond its initial (primary) site. Advanced stages indicate a more extensive spread of cancer throughout the body. The stages of gallbladder cancer include:

• Stage 0: Precancerous and abnormal cells grow in the gallbladder’s mucosal layer.

• Stage 1: Cancerous cells in the mucosal layer multiply and spread to the muscle wall of your gallbladder.

• Stage 2: Cancer spreads beyond the muscle layer to the connective tissue layers.

• Stage 3: Cancer spreads to the liver and nearby organs or to the serosal or outer lining of the gallbladder and its lymph nodes.

• Stage 4: Cancer spreads to blood vessels and lymph nodes far from your gallbladder.

Early-stage gallbladder cancer treatment:

Early-stage gallbladder cancer treatment includes the following methods for the best outcomes: 

• Surgery: This procedure involves the removal of your gallbladder and sometimes its adjacent tissues. In a simple cholecystectomy, only the gallbladder is removed. In an extended cholecystectomy, the surgeon may extract additional tissues containing cancer cells, such as affected lymph nodes or a portion of the liver. If surgery is done in the early stages, gallbladder cancer can be cured. 

• Chemotherapy: It involves the use of drugs to eliminate and inhibit the multiplication of malignant cells. It is usually prescribed post-surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells. In some instances, doctors recommend combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy for a comprehensive treatment approach.

Because gallbladder cancer does not exhibit symptoms in its early stages, a renowned gallbladder cancer doctor in Kolkata advises patients to get an immediate diagnosis done if they experience upper abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or feel lumps in the abdomen for early detection of this disease.