Gallbladder cancer affects about 50 people each year. It is more common in women than men, and is usually diagnosed in people over the age of 50. There are very few cases in people under 70.

Gallbladder cancer does not cause symptoms in the early stages. Later symptoms can include:

• abdominal (tummy) pain
• feeling sick
• jaundice

The gallbladder

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that is located underneath the liver. The main purpose of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile.

Bile is a liquid produced by the liver that helps digest fats. It is passed from the liver through a series of channels, called bile ducts, into the gallbladder, where it is stored.

Over time, bile becomes more concentrated, which increases its effectiveness at digesting fats. The gallbladder releases bile into the digestive system when it is needed.

The gallbladder is a useful, but not essential, organ. The gallbladder can safely be removed without interfering with your ability to digest food.

Outlook

Gallbladder cancer can be treated using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As with most types of cancer, the outlook for individual cases depends largely on how far the cancer has advanced at the time of diagnosis.