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| Detailed Guide: Gallbladder Cancer |
Can Gallbladder Cancer Be Found Early? |
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Only about one fourth of gallbladder cancers are found before they have spread to other tissues and organs. Many of these early cancers are found unexpectedly when a person's gallbladder is removed as treatment for gallstones. When the gallbladder is examined in the laboratory after it is removed, small cancers or pre-cancerous changes are sometimes found that did not cause any symptoms. Because the gallbladder is located deep inside the body, early tumors cannot be seen or felt by health care providers during routine physical exams. There are currently no blood tests or other screening tests that can detect early gallbladder cancers. Without effective screening tests, most gallbladder cancers are found only when the cancer has grown and spread enough to cause symptoms.
Last Revised: 08/06/2006
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