Can gallbladder stones cause cancer?

Although gallbladder stones can raise your risk of gallbladder cancer, they do not directly cause the disease. 

Is gallbladder cancer curable?

Early-stage gallbladder cancer can be treated successfully with surgery, but most cases are diagnosed at a later stage, making treatment more challenging. This highlights the importance of early detection.

Is gallbladder cancer detectable by a blood test?

There is a test to measure the amount of bilirubin in your blood, but there are no tests that can identify gallbladder cancer specifically. Bilirubin levels can increase as a result of gallbladder issues, including malignancy. Tumour markers such as Ca19-9 are not diagnostic for gallbladder cancer, but they can be monitored for diagnosed cases as a surrogate marker that indicates disease response (however, radiological imaging would still be a more objective parameter). 

What is the prognosis for gallbladder cancer?

Survival rates depend on the stage. In the early stages of gallbladder cancer, a five-year survival rate of up to more than 50% can be achieved if stage-adjusted therapy is performed. Once cancer has spread beyond the gallbladder, however, survival rates are lower.

Can gallbladder cancer be detected early?

There are no routine screening tests, and it is often detected incidentally. Awareness of risk factors and early symptoms is important for early detection.

Does gallbladder removal eliminate the risk of gallbladder cancer?

Gallbladder removal significantly reduces the risk of gallbladder cancer, especially in individuals with chronic gallbladder disease, but it does not eliminate the possibility of cancer developing in surrounding tissues.

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