Difference between early-stage and mid-stage gallbladder cancer

Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Updated on December 01, 2024
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For gallbladder cancer, its staging is mainly based on the size of the tumor and whether there are metastases to other parts of the body, including lymph node metastases. In early-stage gallbladder cancer patients, the tumor is generally small and there are no metastases to other parts of the body. At this stage, patients typically do not show specific symptoms.

Additionally, for patients with mid-stage gallbladder cancer, they may experience discomfort or dull pain in the upper right abdomen, and may also experience weight loss, possibly even developing cachexia. Therefore, gallbladder cancer patients can undergo surgical removal and a pathological examination can provide a better assessment of the pathological stage, leading to a better treatment plan.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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What should I do if gallbladder cancer causes itchy skin?

Gallbladder cancer patients may experience skin itching, as they often develop secondary obstructive jaundice. This can lead to lighter stool color, darker urine color, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, and generalized itching. For treatment, surgery should be performed for better therapeutic outcomes. Although medications to reduce jaundice can be used for symptomatic treatment, surgery is generally advocated, especially for early-stage gallbladder cancer patients without significant metastasis, where early surgical removal can significantly improve prognosis. Additionally, since malignant tumors are a consumptive disease, it is advisable for patients to consume a diet high in protein, such as eggs, lean meat, and fish, to supplement the proteins needed by the body and enhance the patient's immunity.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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How long does it take for gallstones to develop into gallbladder cancer?

Gallstones do not necessarily develop into gallbladder cancer. For patients with gallstones, they mainly experience discomfort and pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after overeating or drinking alcohol, when the symptoms suddenly appear. Gallstones do not necessarily cause gallbladder cancer. If symptoms occur, surgery should be performed at this time. Only through surgery can a cure for gallbladder cancer be achieved. It is a common malignant tumor of the gallbladder, mainly caused by repeated inflammatory stimuli or genetic factors. At this time, surgery should be performed to better improve the prognosis of the patient. Early stage gallbladder cancer can be completely removed surgically to achieve a cure.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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The difference between gallbladder polyps and gallbladder cancer in ultrasound examinations

For gallbladder polyps, they are a type of benign tumor, so under color ultrasound, benign protrusions can be observed, and there are no adhesions with surrounding tissues, nor is there obvious blood vessel supply. For gallbladder cancer, it is a type of malignant tumor, so at this time, adhesions with surrounding tissues can be observed under color ultrasound, and there is obvious blood vessel supply. Therefore, for patients with gallbladder polyps and gallbladder cancer, their treatment methods are completely different, and attention should be paid. If it is a gallbladder polyp, patients generally do not exhibit obvious symptoms and do not require special management. For gallbladder cancer patients, however, it severely affects their quality of life and lifespan, so attention must be paid, and early surgical removal and treatment must be undertaken to achieve a cure.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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What foods can someone with gallbladder cancer eat?

Patients with gallbladder cancer should pay attention to the following points in their diet: 1. Patients with gallbladder cancer should avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, barbecue, and garlic. They should primarily consume a light diet, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, as these are rich in vitamins and can promote gastrointestinal motility, maintain smooth bowel movements, and prevent intestinal obstruction. 2. The diet of gallbladder cancer patients should also include some foods high in protein, such as eggs, lean meat, and fish, because these foods can supplement the albumin needed by the human body, enhance the patient's resistance, and thus be beneficial for the recovery of the condition.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
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MRI manifestations of gallbladder cancer

The manifestations of gallbladder cancer on MRI primarily include significant thickening of the gallbladder wall or a mass within the gallbladder. Generally, it appears as low signal on T1-weighted images and high signal on T2-weighted images. After enhancement, the lesion shows obvious enhancement. If the lesion is large, necrosis may occur internally. Since the gallbladder is close to the liver, if abnormal signals are found in the liver, intrahepatic metastasis should be considered, which further confirms the possibility of gallbladder cancer. Additionally, gallbladder cancer can also invade the nearby bile ducts, causing dilation of the bile ducts, as well as local or distant lymph node metastasis.