Gallbladder Cancer Treatment in Israel
Gallbladder cancer is a relatively rare malignancy. However, gallstones, which are considered to be one of its main risk factors, are becoming more and more prevalent. It has also been associated with:
- Chronic cholecystitis
- Gallbladder cysts and polyps
- Biliary calcinosis
- Chronic Salmonella infection
- Helicobacter Pylori
They symptoms of gallbladder carcinoma are usually not well pronounced. Patients most commonly report presistent dull pain below the right ribs, mild jaundice, reduced appetite and weight loss.
Please find our gallbladder cancer treatment in Israel program below.
Work-up
- Full blood workup (including CBC, CMP, coagulation factors, electrolyte levels, lipid profile, tumour markers, pancreatic enzymes and HbA1c)
- Abdominal Ultrasound with Doppler
- Abdominal MRI scan (with and without contrast material)
- Optional: MRCP scan (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography)
- PET-CT scan to rule out metastases
These procedures will take 5 business days to complete. The work up will take place at the advanced Assuta Hospital. Please note that an abdominal surgeon’s exam is often also scheduled as part of the work up.
Treatment
Surgery
If no mets are discovered, the most common method of treatment is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder resection) with lymph node sampling. Price of operation includes the following:
- Routine preoperative preparation including an ECG, chest X-ray and an anesthesiologist consultation
- Operative procedure and up to 2 days of hospitalization
- Disposable surgical materials
- Intraoperative express biopsy and definitive histopathological study
It is advised you remain in Israel for approximately 7 days following your discharge from the hospital for follow-up care. During this period you will be examined by a gastric oncologist, who will determine the appropriate course of post-operative treatment (monitoring vs chemotherapy), and will also be referred to a clinical dietitian.
Chemotherapy
If the cancer is found to have spread beyond the regional lymph nodes into other organs and/or the omentum, neoadjuvant chemotherapy might be indicated. The exact treatment protocol (which will be drawn up by Assuta’s oncologists) will depend on tumour’s characteristics.
A follow-up PET/CT scan, and gastric oncologist and abdominal surgeon consultations will be scheduled following 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy in order to evaluate response to treatment and assess whether surgery is indicated.
