Gall bladder cancer

Surgery is the main treatment for gall bladder cancer. The aim is to remove all the cancer cells. This may mean removing the gall bladder and various tissues, lymph nodes and organs, depending on how far the cancer has spread.

If your cancer is causing a blockage in your bile duct, your doctor might put a stent in during an ERCP. A stent is a thin mesh wire tube that will keep the duct open and prevent blockages.

Read about surgery for gall bladder cancer.

Chemotherapy is a treatment using drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for gall bladder cancer may be given:

• Before surgery or radiotherapy to shrink the cancer and reduce the risk of it coming back
• With radiotherapy (chemoradiation), to help the radiotherapy work better
• As a treatment on its own for patients who can’t have surgery or for advanced gall bladder cancer

You may have a single drug or a combination of different chemotherapy drugs. The drugs are either injected into the bloodstream or given in tablet form.

Read more about chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. You will usually have treatment on weekdays for 4-5 weeks, going home after treatment each day. 

Radiotherapy for gall bladder cancer may be given:

• After surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells
• With chemotherapy to make the treatment work better (chemoradiation)
• To relieve symptoms if the cancer is advanced or has come back. For example, pain, discomfort, bleeding or blockage. This is called palliative radiotherapy

Read more about radiotherapy.