A Rare but Deadly Cancer
While gallbladder and bile duct cancers are relatively rare forms, the American Cancer Society estimated that approximately 12,350 Americans would be diagnosed with these diseases in 2024. Just over 4,500 were expected to die from it. February is designated as Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer Awareness Month. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ, located under the liver and usually three to four inches long in adults. It collects and stores bile, a fluid made by the liver to aid with the digestion of fats. The bile ducts are thin, tube-like vessels that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.
Tough to Detect
In gallbladder cancer cases, about 90 percent is adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in the cells with gland-like properties and line the internal or external surfaces in the body. This includes the inside of the digestive system. Because the gallbladder is deep inside the body, it is often hard to detect early cancer there. Early tumors can’t be seen or felt during routine physicals, and no blood or other tests can reliably detect it. For this reason, most gallbladder cancers are found after it has grown enough to cause signs or symptoms. Among common symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin), or stomach lumps. If the cancer blocks the bile ducts, the gallbladder can swell. Gallbladder cancer can also spread to nearby parts of the liver, which sometimes can be felt as lumps on the right side of the body.
Talk with Your Doctor
Go get checked. Talk with your primary care provider about cancer screenings, or call Edwards Cancer Institute at 304.399.6500 if you need to find a doctor. Also, if you have a loved one or friend who is suffering from some form of cancer, consider organizing an event or fundraiser to help attack this dreaded disease.
Consider a Gift
Consider being a part of our annual fundraiser to combat cancer called Path to the Cure. You can also donate to our Good Samaritan Cancer Fund, which helps patients who are struggling to pay for their medication, transportation to appointments, hotel stays for long visits, and other costs.
