What are the key statistics about gallbladder cancer?

The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for cancer of the gallbladder and bile ducts in the United States are for 2012:

• About 9,810 new cases will be diagnosed: 4,480 in men and 5,330 in women
• About 3,200 people will die of these cancers: 1,240 men and 1,960 women

Of these new cases, more than half (about 60%, which is almost 6,000 cases) will be gallbladder cancers.

Gallbladder cancer is not usually found until it has become advanced and causes symptoms. Only about 1 out of 5 gallbladder cancers is found in the early stages, where the cancer has not yet spread beyond the gallbladder.

The chances of survival for patients with gallbladder cancer depend to a large extent on how advanced it is when it is found. For statistics on survival rates, see the section, "Survival statistics for gallbladder cancer by stage."