Not yet registered? Create a OverBlog!

Create my blog

How to treat gall bladder cancer

The gall bladder is a small organ that is concealed by the liver and performs non-essential tasks such as fat digestion and concentrating bile produced by the liver. However, even though the body can, if required, cope without it, this organ is susceptible to gall bladder cancer, particularly in women, and can be notoriously difficult to treat if found too late. Unfortunately, symptoms of gall bladder cancer (also known as gallbladder or biliary cancer) usually appear only late in the disease and even then can be mistaken for more common ailments.

Treatment for early diagnosis

If found early, gall bladder cancer survival rates are higher but this depends on several factors. For instance, if the cancer is localised and hasn't spread to other parts of the body, a gall bladder operation to remove the organ is preferred (this is known as cholecystectomy). To ensure that it hasn't spread, part of the liver and lymph node are also removed. Ironically, the patients who have the best chance of survival are those for whom the gall bladder has been removed in order to deal with stones, and early stage cancer has been found incidentally. With respect to later stage cancer however, many patients die within a year of surgery. However, this is also influenced by the type of gall bladder cancer, which can be determined by miscroscopic analysis, and whether the cancer has recurred.

Treatment for late diagnosis

Sometimes, surgery is impossible. In this case, a small tube is inserted through an endoscope and into the biliary tree in order to reduce jaundice. Similar stenting of the gut may ease vomiting. Other gall bladder treatments with surgery include chemotherapy and radiation but most gall bladder cancer symptoms appear so late that there's usually little or no hope for the patient. In this case, reducing suffering and relieving symptoms becomes
paramount: palliative care is the best option. This is defined as treatment that is used whether or not it's curative - the main objective is to ensure the quality of life for the patient and his or her family. It involves a combination of spiritual and psychological methods but as it can be used in conjunction with curative treatments - such as chemotherapy - medical solutions, such as morphine to relieve pain, are still important.

Same category articles Illness & diseases

What is MS and how does it affect you?

What is MS and how does it affect you?

Multiple Sclerosis or MS, as it is commonly known, is a disabling disease that will attack the central nervous system, causing the person to have loss or limited use of some of their abilities to function normally. Although there are many new treatments available today, there are still some people like Annette Funicello and Richard Pryor who died from this horrible illness.
What are the signs of MS?

What are the signs of MS?

Multiple sclerosis, commonly referred to as MS, affects the central nervous system. This is a chronic disease that for some is manageable, and for others, debilitating. Find out about the signs and symptoms of MS and decide if you need to visit your doctor for a diagnosis.
Where to buy diabetes test strips

Where to buy diabetes test strips

In UK alone, it is estimated that there are around two million of people who have diabetes, but 750000 people who have diabetes have not yet been diagnosed. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications that include kidney and heart problems. In order to check your blood monitor, you can purchase glucose strips to determine what your glucose meter is.
All about the Anthony Nolan Trust

All about the Anthony Nolan Trust

Anthony Nolan is a company in the UK that works to save people who need urgent stem cell transplants by locating matching donors. The company claims that it is the country's most successful stem cell register, and involves itself in research in an effort to improve the success of transplants by encouraging donating. This is a guide to the essential facts about the company and what it offers.