Gallbladder Cancer Surgery
Gallbladder cancer surgery involves removing the gallbladder, and in some cases, nearby tissues or parts of the liver. It is most effective when the cancer is detected early and has not spread.
Recovery Timeline
- Hospital stay: 5–7 days
- Return to normal diet: within 1 week
- Resume work: 4–6 weeks
- Full recovery: 8–10 weeks
Diet and Lifestyle
- Small, frequent meals
- Avoid high-fat foods
- Stay hydrated
- Regular follow-ups with imaging and tumor marker monitoring
Diagnostic Tests
- Ultrasound
- MRCP
- CT Scan (Abdomen)
- PET Scan
- Tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9)
Treatment
- Adjuvant Therapy: For muscle-invasive, node-positive, or margin-positive disease, adjuvant chemotherapy (e.g., Gemcitabine + Cisplatin, or Capecitabine) is recommended after surgery.
- Immunotherapy: Emerging role for immunotherapy combinations in advanced stages.
- Neoadjuvant Therapy: For high-risk incidental gallbladder cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (e.g., gemcitabine-based regimen) before re-operation is being explored.
Surgical Options
- Radical Cholecystectomy: Removal of the gallbladder along with adjacent liver tissue and regional lymph nodes.
- Extended Liver Resection: If the cancer has spread into larger portions of the liver.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Abdominal pain or discomfort (upper right quadrant)
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
unexplained weight loss
