Understanding Gallbladder Cancer The gallbladder, located under our right rib cage and behind the liver, has the function of storing and concentrating bile. Gallbladder cancer is most common in women and is usually asymptomatic in its early stages, with some having symptoms of chronic cholecystitis. Gallbladder cancer often coexists with stones, and it is generally believed that the chronic irritation of stones is the main factor leading to gallbladder cancer. Due to the difficulty of early diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, once obvious symptoms appear, most of them are already in the middle and late stages. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to regular checkups when chronic gallbladder diseases exist. Early symptoms of gallbladder cancer Although there are no specific symptoms in the early stage of gallbladder cancer, there are traces of gallbladder cancer when combined with the chronic diseases of gallbladder. Therefore, if the following symptoms exist, it is necessary to pay attention to them. 1.Pain in upper right abdomen Since gallbladder cancer mostly coexists with gallbladder stones, the symptoms between the two are similar, mostly persistent pain in the right upper abdomen, which may increase paroxysmally and radiate to the right shoulder or even waist and back. 2.Indigestion Since the bile of gallbladder is involved in digestion, most of the gallbladder cancer patients will show indigestion, dislike of greasy food, vomiting, belching, and diet without addition in the early stage. This is caused by the insufficient function of gallbladder to digest fatty substances. 3.Jaundice The symptom of jaundice mostly appears in the late stage of gallbladder cancer, but of course, a few patients may also have gallbladder cancer in the early stage. It may become persistent, progressive aggravation or intermittent attacks. It is caused by obstruction caused by tumor invasion of bile duct. Most of them are accompanied with symptoms such as wasting, weakness, yellow staining of skin and mucous membrane, and itching of skin. 4.Fever and mass When patients have chills and fever as well as palpable right upper abdominal mass, they are mostly in advanced stage. Given that the early detection rate of gallbladder cancer is not high, it is recommended to have regular checkups for chronic diseases of gallbladder that meet the following points: 1. Patients with gallstones for more than 5 years. 2.Female gallbladder stone patients over 50 years old. 3. Patients with gallbladder stones larger than 2 cm in diameter. 4.Patients with gallbladder atrophy and cystic wall thickening found on examination. 5.Gallbladder polyps larger than 1cm. 6.Stones embedded in the neck of gallbladder.