MedStar Harbor Hospital

Gallbladder cancer is rare. Your prognosis and treatment options depend on whether it is discovered early or at a late stage:

• Early-stage gallbladder cancer: Surgical removal, or a cholecystectomy, is an option when the cancer has not spread to other areas of the body. In some cases, if the cancer has spread into the liver, your surgeon can remove affected portions of the liver and surrounding bile ducts during the cholecystectomy.
• Late-stage gallbladder cancer: Surgery is not an option for cancer that has spread beyond the gall bladder to other parts of the body. Your doctor may prescribe radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both to relieve your symptoms and make you as comfortable as possible.