Q. What is the survival rate of a gallbladder cancer patient?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the images (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The imaging is clearly showing a gallbladder tumor. There are different types of gallbladder tumors and the prognosis, outcome, and survival is different from one person to other. Here we do not know yet which type of gallbladder tumor it is. That will be known only after surgical removal of the tumor or after a surgical biopsy from the tumor.

The PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) is showing tumor is free from distant metastasis (spread). It looks stage-3 radiologically. But actual staging will be known after surgery (pathological staging). The most common type of gallbladder tumor is adenocarcinoma and the prognosis for adenocarcinoma gallbladder is usually poor except in early stages. It is usually a chemoresistant tumor.

The only curative treatment in these tumors is radical surgery (removal of the tumor along with gallbladder) if technically feasible. So, it is necessary to have a tissue confirmation of the diagnosis before commenting on survival and prognosis and actual staging.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and I can understand your concern. The biopsy report is clearly showing a malignant biliary tract tumor (adenocarcinoma of gallbladder versus cholangiocarcinoma). The radiological imaging and PET (positron emission tomography) scan is showing gallbladder tumor with local infiltration to the liver and lymph node metastasis, plus there is a suspicion of peritoneal metastasis.

For this kind of an aggressive tumor, the only curative option available is radical surgery, but not everyone is a candidate for surgery. If cancer has spread to other parts then it is locally advanced. In that case, surgery has little role to play. So, I will recommend you consult a hepatobiliary surgeon first and take his valuable opinion (give cure a chance). He can check laparoscopically and find out if peritoneal (abdominal) cavity is invaded by cancer or free of cancer. If it is free, he can try for radical removal of the tumor along with gallbladder and part of the liver (that is involved).

Chemotherapy has little role to play in this tumor. This tumor is usually resistant to chemotherapy. But if surgery is not possible, (that means poor prognosis) then, the only option left is chemotherapy with much less benefit.

Same symptoms doesn’t mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Arshad Hussain Shah

Experience: 12 + Yrs

Medical Oncology

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