Gallbladder Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Gallbladder Cancer?
An oncologist (a cancer doctor) usually leads care for gallbladder cancer, often working with a surgeon. Gallbladder cancer is rare. It is hard to find early. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is gallbladder cancer?
Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver. It stores bile, a fluid made by the liver to digest fat.
Gallbladder cancer starts when cells in the gallbladder grow out of control. It starts in the inner layer of the gallbladder wall and spreads through the outer layers as it grows.
Symptoms
Gallbladder cancer rarely causes symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can include:
- Belly pain or cramping, most often in the upper right part of the belly.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Jaundice, a yellow color in the skin and the whites of the eyes. It can happen when the cancer blocks the bile ducts.
- Lumps in the belly.
- Less often, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, fever, itchy skin, dark urine, or light-colored or greasy stools.
These symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than gallbladder cancer. For example, people with gallstones have many of the same symptoms.
Causes and who gets it
Doctors have found some risk factors, and many are linked to long-lasting irritation and swelling (chronic inflammation) in the gallbladder. Having a risk factor, or even many, does not mean a person will get the disease.
Medical conditions that raise the risk include:
- Gallstones, the most common risk factor. Most people with gallstones never develop gallbladder cancer.
- Gallbladder polyps, which are growths on the inner wall. Polyps larger than 1 centimeter are more likely to be cancer.
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis, long-lasting bile duct inflammation that causes scarring.
Other possible risk factors include:
- Being a woman. In the US, gallbladder cancer occurs 3 to 4 times more often in women than in men.
- Being older. Most people with gallbladder cancer are 65 or older when it is found.
- Excess body weight or obesity.
- Type 2 diabetes.
How doctors diagnose it
Gallbladder cancer is hard to find early because the gallbladder is hidden behind the liver. Its symptoms are also like the symptoms of many other illnesses.
Sometimes the cancer is found when the gallbladder is removed for another reason.
Your doctor will ask about your personal and family health history and do a physical exam. You may then have tests such as:
- Liver function tests, a blood test that measures substances released by the liver.
- An ultrasound, a scan that uses sound waves to make a picture of the inside of the body.
- An MRI, a scan that uses a magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures.
- Laparoscopy, a surgery with small cuts in the belly to look at the organs. It helps show whether the cancer is only in the gallbladder or has spread.
- A biopsy, in which a pathologist (a doctor who studies tissue) looks at a small sample under a microscope.
Doctors also stage the cancer, which means finding out whether cancer cells have spread.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, meaning whether it has spread. It also depends on whether surgery can remove all of the cancer.
Gallbladder cancer can be cured only if it is found before it has spread, when it can be removed by surgery. Surgery may remove the gallbladder and some of the tissue around it. Part of the liver and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy may follow surgery.
Many cancers cannot be removed completely by surgery. Most people with gallbladder cancer have this kind. For cancer that has spread or come back, treatment is usually within a clinical trial, a research study of treatments.
Other treatments include:
- Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
- Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. It may be used for some cancers that have spread.
If the cancer has spread, palliative treatment, which aims to ease symptoms, can improve quality of life. Treatment for gallbladder cancer may cause side effects.
When to see a doctor
If you have belly pain, yellow skin or eyes, fever, or other symptoms listed above, see a doctor right away so the cause can be found.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for severe belly pain, severe or constant vomiting, trouble breathing, chest pain, or fainting.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. A direct primary care doctor can listen to your symptoms, examine your belly, order blood tests, and arrange a scan. They can also refer you to a cancer doctor or surgeon and help coordinate your care.
Common questions
Is gallbladder cancer common?
No. Gallbladder cancer is a rare type of cancer. Gallstones are the most common risk factor, but most people with gallstones never develop gallbladder cancer.
Can gallbladder cancer be cured?
Sometimes. Gallbladder cancer can be cured only if it is found before it has spread, when it can be removed by surgery. If it has spread, palliative treatment can help control symptoms.
Do gallstones cause gallbladder cancer?
Gallstones raise the risk, but most people with gallstones do not get gallbladder cancer. Gallstones are the most common risk factor.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute - Gallbladder Cancer Treatment (PDQ)
- American Cancer Society - Signs and Symptoms of Gallbladder Cancer
- American Cancer Society - Risk Factors for Gallbladder Cancer
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
