Gallbladder Cancer Treatment in India

Gallbladder cancer is a rare type of cancer that develops when malignant (cancer) cells originate in the gallbladder’s tissues. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ in the upper belly that sits just under the liver. It holds bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. Bile is secreted from the gallbladder by the common bile duct, which connects the gallbladder and liver to the first part of the small intestine when food is broken down in the stomach and intestines.

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Types Gallbladder Cancers

Based on the origin, gallbladder cancers are categorized into two types:

About 90% of gallbladder cancers are found to be adenocarcinomas. The cancerous growth in this type begins in the gland-like cells present in the inner lining of the gallbladder. Adenocarcinomas are further classified into subtypes – non papillary adenocarcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma.
Other types of gallbladder cancers are adenosquamous carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, etc. These are both rare and aggressive than adenocarcinomas.

Symptoms Gallbladder Cancer

The symptoms of gallbladder cancer can be confusing. If the following symptoms are observed for more than two weeks, it is important to see a physician:

Steady pain on the right side (upper) of the abdomen
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Unintentional weight loss
Enlarged gallbladder
Vomiting due to obstruction
Jaundice
A swollen abdomen

Early signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer are similar to gallbladder inflammation caused by gallstones. Symptoms of biliary and gastric blockage may develop later.

Causes of Gallbladder Cancer

The exact causes of gallbladder cancer are still not known. Nevertheless, the researchers have identified a few factors that increase one’s risk of developing gallbladder cancer:

Gender: Women are more likely than men to develop gallbladder cancer.
Cholecystitis: Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder that leads to gallbladder stones. This is by far the most common predisposing factor for gallbladder cancer.
Positive Family History for Gallstones and Gallbladder Cancer: People who have a family history of gallstones are twice as likely to get gallbladder cancer.
Tobacco Use and Chemical Exposure: Tobacco and several industrial chemicals cause damage to the DNA structure, lead to genetic abnormalities and thereby, increase the risk of gallbladder and other cancers. Gallbladder cancer is more common in people who work in the metal or rubber industries.
Porcelain Gallbladder: This is a condition in which calcium deposits form on the inside of the gallbladder’s walls, hardening them. Those with a porcelain gallbladder have an increased risk of gallbladder cancer.
Improper Functioning of Pancreas and Bile Ducts: Problems associated with pancreas and bile ducts may increase one’s risk of gallbladder cancer.
Obesity: Being overweight or obese increases the chances of gallstones and cholecystitis, which can lead to gallbladder cancer.
Diet: A high-carbohydrate, low-fiber diet has been linked with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer.
Diabetes: Diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of this disease
Hormone Replacement Therapy: Women who are exposed to more of the hormone estrogen may have a higher risk of gallbladder cancer.

Diagnosis Gallbladder Cancer

There are multiple tests recommended by doctors for the detection and diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. The results from these tests are further used to create personalised treatment plans for patients.

First and foremost, the doctor may conduct a physical examination, during which he/she may look for signs of gallbladder cancer. The doctor may particularly look for lumps, tenderness and fluid build-up in the abdomen region. He/she may also look for signs of jaundice. The lymph nodes nearby are also checked for swelling. If gallbladder cancer is suspected, the following tests may be recommended:

Blood Tests: To determine the amount of bilirubin in the blood, blood tests may be performed. Bilirubin levels in the blood can be raised by problems with the gallbladder, bile ducts, or liver. Albumin, liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, and GGT) tests, as well as other blood tests, may be performed. These tests are frequently referred to as liver function tests. They aid in the diagnosis of disorders of the liver, bile ducts and gallbladder.
Tumor Markers: Gallbladder cancer patients may have elevated levels of the markers CEA and CA 19-9 in their blood. These indicators are usually seen in significant concentrations in the blood only when cancer has progressed to an advanced stage. While these biomarkers aren’t specific to gallbladder cancer, they can be helpful after an individual has been diagnosed with the disease. These indicators can be tracked over time to study how the patient’s body is responding to the treatment.
Imaging Tests: Various imaging tests, such as ultrasound scan, CT scan, MRI scan, etc., are recommended to study the internal structure of the organ and check for the presence of abnormal masses.Apart from supporting accurate diagnosis, these tests also help in disease staging, treatment planning, therapy monitoring and restaging. In the case of gallbladder cancer a special imaging test is recommended to thoroughly examine the gallbladder region.

Cholangiography: This test allows the clinician to thoroughly examine the bile ducts. It can be done with an MRI machine (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography), an endoscope (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), or through a needle inserted through the abdominal skin (Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography).

Biopsy: During a biopsy, cells or tissues from the suspected area are removed so that a pathologist can examine them under a microscope for signs of gallbladder cancer. Even after the tumor has been removed, a biopsy may be performed. If the tumour cannot be removed surgically, the biopsy sample may be collected using a thin needle for further examination.

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Gallbladder cancer treatment

There are multiple treatment options available for the treatment and management of gallbladder cancer. Following are the commonly recommended treatment methods:

Surgery: A cholecystectomy or surgery to remove the gallbladder and some of the surrounding tissues. Nearby lymph nodes may be removed as well. Gallbladder surgery is occasionally guided via a laparoscope. A video camera is attached to the laparoscope, which is introduced through an incision in the abdomen. Surgical instruments are introduced through the pores made. Because there’s a chance gallbladder cancer cells will spread to these openings, the tissue around them may be removed as well.

The following types of palliative surgery may help reduce symptoms if cancer has spread and cannot be removed:

Surgical biliary bypass: A biliary bypass may be performed if the tumor is blocking the small intestine and bile is accumulating in the gallbladder. The gallbladder or bile duct will be cut and stitched to the small intestine to construct a new conduit around the obstructed location during this procedure.
Endoscopic stent placement: If the tumour is blocking the bile duct, surgery to place a stent (a thin, flexible tube) to drain bile that has accumulated in the area may be required. The stent can be inserted around the blocked area to internally drain the bile into the small intestine or can be inserted through a catheter that drains to the outside of the body.
Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage: When endoscopic stent implantation is not possible due to a blockage, surgery to drain bile is performed. To find the blockage, an x-ray of the liver and bile ducts is taken. Ultrasound images may be used to guide the insertion of a stent in the liver, which drains bile into the small intestine or a pouch outside the body. This surgery may be recommended to alleviate jaundice before surgery.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that destroys cancer cells using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation. Radiation therapy can either be delivered externally or internally. External radiation therapy delivers radiation to the tumour from a radiation source outside the body. Internal radiation therapy involves injecting a radioactive substance into or near the tumour through seeds, wires, needles or catheters. Radiation therapy may also be recommended to ease pain in advanced stages of the disease.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that employs potent drugs to inhibit cancer cells from growing by either killing them or keeping them from dividing. Chemotherapy enters the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells all over the body when taken by mouth or injected into a vein. It is usually given to gallbladder cancer patients after surgery (adjuvant therapy). Chemotherapy may be administered alone to help reduce signs and symptoms caused by cancer, and to increase survival to some extent in patients with advanced-stage gallbladder cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are gallbladder cancers treatable?
If detected in the early stages, gallbladder cancers can be treated with positive clinical outcomes and higher survival rates. Thanks to the advancements in the field of cancer care, today, our specialists can treat advanced-stage gallbladder cancers as well.
However, early diagnosis makes the treatment simpler, and patients can recover at a relatively faster rate. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of any abdominal issues and other symptoms that last for more than two weeks.

2. Is gallbladder cancer difficult to diagnose?
Yes, gallbladder cancers are relatively difficult to diagnose for the following reasons:

In the early stages of gallbladder cancer, there are no indications or symptoms.
As the disease progresses, the symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions.
Behind the liver, the gallbladder is hidden.

3. Does gallbladder cancer cause pain?
Yes, gallbladder cancer causes persistent abdominal pain that may intensify as the illness progresses, but there are treatments available to help manage the pain.

4. Do gallbladder stones cause gallbladder cancer?
No, gallbladder stones do not cause gallbladder cancers. However, their presence can increase one’s risk of developing gallbladder cancer.

5. Can I prevent gallbladder cancer?
Although you cannot prevent gallbladder cancer completely, there are a few things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing this disease. Maintaining healthy body weight, having nutritional and balanced meals, staying physically active, quitting tobacco and reducing alcohol intake are a few preventive measures that may help you reduce your gallbladder cancer risk.

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Fortis Memorial Research Institute

Number of beds:   1000
ICU Beds:     298
Airport Distance:  17 KMs

Brief About:

Fortis Memorial Research Institute was established in 2001.
It is an outstanding multi-speciality quaternary care hospital,having the top-notch infrastructure, advanced equipment, highly qualified and experienced medical professionals and super sub-specialists.
Fortis Hosptial Gurgaon is an advanced centre of excellence in Robotic Surgery, Neurosciences, Oncology, Renal Sciences, BMT, Organ Transplants, Orthopaedics, Cardiac Sciences and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

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JCI & NABH Accredited Hospital, NABL Accredited Lab, NABH Certified Nursing Excellence, NABH Accredited Blood Bank
FMRI is a 1000 bedded and 15 Operation theaters and over 400 diagnostics centres (including JVs).
Medical facility endowed with a dedicated team of 200 world-renowned doctors, covering a number of specialities, who aim to provide the best quality medical care to all the patients, national as well as international.
This hospital is well set up with the latest technologies and equipment throughout all the specialties and research labs, which are accredited by NABL.
This ensures that the patients at FMRI receive diagnostic results and treatment with high accuracy and in minimum time.
With a vision for the community, FMRI operates various speciality clinics such as, for Paediatrics, Nephrology, Neurology, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Oncology and many more, which provide long term healthcare management and follow up care.
FMRI is the premium healthcare provider and endeavours to be known as the “Mecca of Medicine” – the ultimate healthcare destination.

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Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

No. of beds: 900
ICU Beds: 262
Airport: 20kms

About Hospital:

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is a flagship hospital of India’s foremost healthcare groups,the Apollo Group. It is a highly renowned multi-speciality facility that offers tertiary and quaternary care services to domestic and international patients.
The 900 bedded hospital is outfitted with the most modern technology for diagnostics as well as therapeutic purposes.
A team of highly trained medical professionals work under all the 52 specialities at the hospital.

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Indraprastha Apollo is an accredited hospital with international standard quality services for patient care and safety norms.
The hospital uses its own system, called The Apollo Standards of Clinical Care (TASCC), to maintain top standards for all kinds of treatment and procedures.
The Apollo Organ Transplant Program is one of the most successful programs in the country that has performed over 1627 transplants (410 Liver and 1210 Kidney), including 979 transplants (289 Liver and 690 Kidney) performed at the Transplant Program in Delhi.
It is the First Hospital in India to perform a Paediatric Liver Transplant in 1998. They have successfully performed various kinds of liver transplant for different kinds of liver conditions.
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has some world-reputed surgeons and specialists who are the pioneers of their specialities, especially in Cardiology and Neurology.
The hospital has won many national and international accolades and continues to be one of the top healthcare service providers in India.
It is the first hospital in India to get international accreditation by international (JCI) consecutively for the fourth time

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Artemis Hospital Gurgaon

Number of beds: 600
ICU Beds: 185
Airport Distance: 19 Km

Brief About:

Artemis Hospital, established in 2007, spread across 9 acres, is a 600plus bed; state-of-the-art multi-speciality hospital located in Gurgaon, India.
Artemis Hospital is the first JCI and NABH accredited hospital in Gurgaon.
Designed as one of the most advanced hospitals in India, Artemis provides a depth of expertise in the spectrum of advanced medical & surgical interventions, a comprehensive mix of inpatient and outpatient services.

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Artemis has around 400 + best doctors. It has put modern technology in the hands of renowned doctors from across the country and abroad to set new standards in healthcare.
The medical practices and procedures followed in the hospital are research-oriented and benchmarked against the best in the world.
Top-notch services, in a warm, open patient-centric environment, clubbed with affordability, has made us one of the most revered hospitals in the country.
Most Promising Start-Up of the Year 2007 award – Express Healthcare magazine
Best IT Implementation for the Year 2008 – PC Quest magazine for Hospital Information System
Best institute for Medical Value Year 2010 – The CNBC Awaaz travel awards
Asia Pacific Hand hygiene excellence Award Year 2011 – World Health Organisation (WHO)
The patient base is 400000
750000 surgeries conducted since the inception

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BLK-Max Hospital

Number of beds: 700
ICU Beds: 175
Airport Distance: 13 Km

Brief About:

BLK Super Speciality Hospital was established by Dr. B.L. Kapur in 1959. It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.
BLK Super Speciality Hospital was established by Dr. B.L. Kapur in 1959. It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.
BLK has a unique combination of the best in class technology, put to use by the best names in the professional circles to ensure world-class health care to all patients.

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Spread on five acres of land, with a capacity of 700 beds,
BLK Super Speciality Hospital is one of the largest tertiary care private hospitals in the country,
BLK has consistently ranked amongst the Top 10 Multi Super Specialty Hospitals in Delhi NCR.
The outpatient services are spread on two floors with 80 consultation rooms. All ambulatory services have been designed with the intent to create dedicated aides for all specialities, with their interventional services in close vicinity.
The hospital has 17 state-of-the-art well equipped modular operation theatres with three-stage air filtration and gas scavenging system to ensure patient safety. All the Operation Theatres are fitted with best in class pendants, operating lights, anaesthesia workstations and advanced information management system.
The Hospital has one of the biggest critical care programmes in the region with 125 beds in different intensive care units viz Medical, Surgical, Cardiac, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Neurosciences and Organ Transplant.
Each Critical care unit is equipped with high-end patient monitoring devices, ventilators and dedicated isolation rooms.
Liver and Renal Transplant Centres have been equipped with dedicated ICUs with individual HEPA filters, specialized instruments and equipment.
Awarded the Prestigious Gold Award at Hospital Management Asia (HMA), Bangkok (2013) and HMA Awards 2014.

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Max Hospital Saket

Number of beds: 500
ICU Beds: 267
Airport Distance: 13 KM

Brief About:

Max Super Speciality Hospital at Saket is one of the topmost healthcare service
Providers in India. The multi-super speciality hospital has a capacity of over 500 beds, 250 functional beds. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technologies.
With the help of over 300 leading specialist Doctors, strong nursing staff, and state-of-the-art innovative medical tools.

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Max Hospital, Saket aims to provide the highest standard of medical care to the patients, right from admission and all the way to the patient discharge.
Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, offers the advantage of integrated medical care in a multidisciplinary setting provided by a faculty of highly qualiﬁed doctors, nurses, & healthcare professionals.
Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, is a regional hub for complex procedures such as neurovascular intervention, targeted cancer treatments, heart surgeries, orthopaedic surgeries, liver & kidney transplant, and fertility treatments.
With over 35 Speciality units, this renowned hospital caters to many patients from different parts of India as well as abroad on an everyday basis.
The super specialty hospital is well known for having Asia’s first and the world’s third BrainSUITE technology.
It is an advanced Neurosurgical operation theatre, which allows the medical team to use MRI during the surgery. This sophisticated technology can be used for various kinds of brain surgery.
Max Hospital group is also the first super speciality tertiary care centre that has the facility for advanced cardiac life support ambulances and air evacuation service.

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Providing total cost including treatment, air tickets, accommodation, and food
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Booking accommodation and guest house as per your budget/ prefrence
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Medanta The Medicity Hospital

Number of beds: 1250
ICU Beds: 300
Airport Distance: 18 KMs

Brief About:

Medanta – The Medicity is amongst India’s largest and most renowned multi-super speciality healthcare centre with 1250 beds, 29 super speciality units and more than 800 accomplished doctors.
Supported by state-of-art infrastructure, all the departments in the hospital are fully equipped with cutting-edge technology, modular Operation Theatre and modernized monitoring systems in ICUs.
The panel of doctors from Medanta, headed by A.S.Soin performed the first successful intestinal transplant in India.

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The team of Medanta has performed over 15,000 cardiac surgeries and 2500 joint replacement surgeries.
It Has performed over 500 living donor liver transplants. It is the highest number of liver transplants done in India and the 2nd highest in the world.
Further to its credits, the doctors at Medanta are highly trained experts with international repute and have contributed in making world records and claimed many firsts not only in India but on a global scale.
It has all kinds of procedures like Liver transplant, intestine,transplant and Knee Replacement surgery.
The hospital maintains a high standard of quality clinical care and is operational with the latest technologies like 256 Slice CT, Brain Suite with Intraoperative MRI Imaging, Da Vinci a surgical system with Robot for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Artis- Zeego Endovascular Surgical Cath Lab- with combined operating room.

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Sanar International Hospital

Number of beds: 130
ICU Beds: 35
Airport Distance: 20 Km

About Hospital:

Sanar International Hospital was established in 2018.
Sanar International Hospital founded by Mr. Naresh Kapoor.
Sanar International Hospital offers comprehensive advanced surgical care in specialties like Cancer, Heart, Blood and Marrow Transplant, Lung, Liver, and Neurosciences along with other major departments with advanced state-of-the-art facilities.

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It establishes itself as a center of excellence with world-class infrastructure, a team of experienced surgeons, doctors, and nursing staff.
Sanar International Hospitals is not only leaving a mark amongst domestic patients but also making it a preferable choice for patients from other countries.
Sanar International Hospital offers comprehensive advanced surgical care in over 15 Specialties.
The hospital’s skilled faculty is on numerous medical clinical & advisory boards and lectures nationally & internationally on a regular basis.
It focuses on High-End Complex Surgeries with cutting-edge technology to enable the carrying-out of the most complex surgical procedures with clinical excellence at par with anywhere in the world.
All facilities are based on the latest revolutionary and technological advancements of global standards particularly in radio diagnosis, research, clinical and surgical practices.
Hospital technology & Radio Diagnostic foray is of the latest generation of MRI, CT, Digital X-Ray, Ultrasound, pharmacy, ambulance & 24 hrs Transfusion Medicine, Laboratory & Emergency services.

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Accord Superspeciality Hospital

Number of beds: 380+
ICU Beds: 41
Airport Distance: 46 Km

About Hospital:

The story of Accord began with the thought of leveraging the new age technology with the healthcare infrastructure to serve the patients, rightly, effectively, and timely.
Accord Superspeciality Hospital (A Unit Of SCL Healthcare Pvt. Ltd) is India’s first smart hospital and one of the first of its kind in the world.
Accord Superspeciality Hospital aims at providing technologically advanced healthcare services to international patients who are looking out for medical tourism in India.

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It delivers world-class patient care services.
Highly experienced team of super specialist available at accord superspeciality hospital
It believes in enhancing the expertise of doctors through the use of augmented artificial intelligence, generated through various systems and software.
Its smartness is the result of a super-brain that accompanies the hospital.

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W Pratiksha Hospital

Number of beds: 110
ICU Beds: 31
Airport Distance: 19 KMs

About Hospital:

Established in 1995, W Pratiksha Hospital is a 110+ bedded flagship hospital of the Pratiksha group.
W Pratiksha Hospital in Gurgaon, the flagship hospital of Pratiksha Group is a one-of-its-kind facility in Gurgaon that brings to you 30 years of experience.
The hospital has treated more than 25,000 people In 2018.

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The chairman of the Pratiksha group – Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma is one of the pioneers of IVF treatment.
The hospital has done more than 5500+ IVF success
It is an accredited hospital with NABH,& NABL.

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Jaypee Hospital, Noida

Number of beds: 525
ICU Beds : 150
Airport Distance: 32 KMs

About Hospital:

The Jaypee Hospital was conceptualized by a revered Founder Chairman, Shri Jai Prakash Gaur in 2014, with the vision of promoting world-class healthcare amongst the masses by providing quality and affordable medical care with commitment.
Jaypee Hospital at Noida is the flagship hospital of the Jaypee Group, which heralds the group’s noble intention to enter the healthcare space.
This hospital has been planned and designed as a 1200 bedded tertiary care multi-speciality facility and has commissioned 525 beds in the first phase.

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The Jaypee Hospital is constructed across a sprawling twenty-five-acre campus in Sector 128, Noida which is easily accessible from Delhi, Noida and the Yamuna Expressway.
With its best in class facilities, state-of-the-art technology, diagnostic services, and skilled doctors.

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