Screening for Gall Bladder and Bile Duct Cancer
We don’t give our poor gall bladder much thought and these cancers can go unnoticed for years. Uncommon but simple testing can be the best way to diagnose these cancers. The gall bladder and bile ducts are small structures attached to your liver that aid in digestion. Symptoms are similar to liver disease and other disorders so can be overlooked or ignored. Often a simple blood test for liver function can be the first layer of diagnosing these cancers. This makes the importance of annual exams so important. Finding them early is the key to successful treatment.
Be sure to schedule a physical exam with your primary care provider each year.
If you need assistance with insurance coverage visit www.maine.gov for affordable insurance options
What You Need to Know:
The Gall Bladder is a small organ just below the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The liver uses fluid stored in the gall bladder to digest food. Gall bladder cancer is often only found in an advanced stage as it may not cause symptoms and is not a common cancer. According to American Cancer Society new cases are expected to be just over 12,000 with expected deaths of 4,400. Due to the advanced stage of detection, early screening is of utmost importance.
Possible symptoms can be associated with other disorders and are commonly overlooked are:
Blood tests to check liver function are often the first way to detect gall bladder cancer. Although quite rare, getting regular tests to assess your health can help you find gall bladder cancer early and get treated to avoid further illness.
Bile Duct Cancer
Bile ducts are small tubes that connect your liver to your gall bladder and small intestine. Bile duct health impacts other organs such as gall bladder and liver so it is important to report any changes to your health care provider. The bile ducts are closely associated with the liver so signs and symptoms can be similar to liver disease.
Your doctor may recommend tests such as liver function tests, imaging, or biopsy.
Unfortunately, bile duct cancer and gall bladder cancer are often unnoticed until advanced stages making treatment more aggressive. Having appropriate liver function and other diagnostic tests make finding and diagnosing these cancers easier.
Don’t put off your annual exam. Your doctor will know your history and what tests to run.
We don’t give our poor gall bladder much thought and these cancers can go unnoticed for years. Uncommon but simple testing can be the best way to diagnose these cancers. The gall bladder and bile ducts are small structures attached to your liver that aid in digestion. Symptoms are similar to liver disease and other disorders so can be overlooked or ignored. Often a simple blood test for liver function can be the first layer of diagnosing these cancers. This makes the importance of annual exams so important. Finding them early is the key to successful treatment.
Be sure to schedule a physical exam with your primary care provider each year.
If you need assistance with insurance coverage visit www.maine.gov for affordable insurance options
What You Need to Know:
The Gall Bladder is a small organ just below the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The liver uses fluid stored in the gall bladder to digest food. Gall bladder cancer is often only found in an advanced stage as it may not cause symptoms and is not a common cancer. According to American Cancer Society new cases are expected to be just over 12,000 with expected deaths of 4,400. Due to the advanced stage of detection, early screening is of utmost importance.
Possible symptoms can be associated with other disorders and are commonly overlooked are:
- Right sided belly pain
- Bloating
- Weight loss without trying
- A mass you can feel through the skin
- Jaundice or yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes, usually in advanced stages.
Blood tests to check liver function are often the first way to detect gall bladder cancer. Although quite rare, getting regular tests to assess your health can help you find gall bladder cancer early and get treated to avoid further illness.
Bile Duct Cancer
Bile ducts are small tubes that connect your liver to your gall bladder and small intestine. Bile duct health impacts other organs such as gall bladder and liver so it is important to report any changes to your health care provider. The bile ducts are closely associated with the liver so signs and symptoms can be similar to liver disease.
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes)
- Itchy skin
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Dark urine
- Night sweats
- White colored stools
- Chronic liver disease
- Bile duct problems at birth
- Liver parasite
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Inherited DNA conditions such as cystic fibrosis and Lynch syndrome (when a cancer causing gene runs in a family)
- Bile duct cancer can occur at any age but is most common after age 50.
Your doctor may recommend tests such as liver function tests, imaging, or biopsy.
Unfortunately, bile duct cancer and gall bladder cancer are often unnoticed until advanced stages making treatment more aggressive. Having appropriate liver function and other diagnostic tests make finding and diagnosing these cancers easier.
Don’t put off your annual exam. Your doctor will know your history and what tests to run.