CANCER TYPE
fact sheet
Understanding
Gallbladder and
Bile Duct Cancers
A guide for people affected by cancer
This fact sheet has been prepared to help you What are gallbladder and bile
understand more about gallbladder cancer duct cancers?
and bile duct cancer. We hope this fact Cancer is when cells in any part of the body become
sheet will help you, your family and friends abnormal and keep growing to form a mass or lump
understand how these cancers are diagnosed called a tumour.
and treated.
Gallbladder and bile duct cancers are 2 different
types of cancers but affect the same area of
About the gallbladder and the body. Bile duct cancer is sometimes called
bile ducts cholangiocarcinoma or biliary tract cancer.
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on
the right side of the abdomen (belly), under the liver. About 85% of gallbladder cancers are
It is part of the digestive system. The gallbladder adenocarcinomas, which are tumours that start
stores bile, a fluid that is made by the liver and helps in the cells that line the inside of the gallbladder.
your body break down fats in the foods you eat. Bile The other, less common, types of gallbladder
ducts are small tubes that carry bile from the liver cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma
into the small bowel (small intestine). and lymphoma.
The gallbladder and bile ducts
Liver
Diaphragm
Liver
Hepatic
Gallbladder artery
Stomach Gallbladder
Large bowel
Stomach
Small bowel Common
bile duct Pancreas
Small bowel
Understanding Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers
Bile duct cancer can happen in different places What are the symptoms?
within the bile duct system. Cancers in the bile Gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer can
ducts that are within the liver are called intrahepatic, be difficult to diagnose in their early stages as
cancers at the point where the left and right hepatic they don’t usually cause symptoms. Sometimes,
ducts meet are called Klatskin tumours and cancers cancer is found when the gallbladder is removed or
in the common bile duct outside the liver are examined for another reason, such as gallstones.
extrahepatic tumours. But most people who have surgery for gallstones do
not have gallbladder cancer.
Malignant (cancerous) tumours have the potential
to spread to other parts of the body through the If there are symptoms, they may include:
bloodstream or lymph vessels and form another • abdominal pain, often on the upper right side
tumour at a new site. This new tumour is known as • nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
secondary cancer or metastasis. • jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), causing
dark urine (wee), pale bowel movements (poo)
• general weakness or fatigue
How common are gallbladder and • a lump in the abdomen
bile duct cancers? • unexplained weight loss
About 1430 Australians are diagnosed each year • a constant itch
with gallbladder and bile duct cancers.1 People 65 • fever.
or over are more likely to be diagnosed with these
cancers than younger people.
Diagnosis
If your doctor thinks that you may have
What are the risk factors? gallbladder or bile duct cancer, they will perform
The exact cause of most gallbladder cancers is not a physical examination and arrange some of
known, but factors that increase your risk include: the following tests:
• having had gallstones or inflammation of the
gallbladder in the past Blood tests – These may include a full blood count
• family history of gallbladder cancer (close relative (to measure your white blood cells, red blood cells
such as mother, father, sibling or child) and platelets), liver function tests (to measure
• other gallbladder and bile duct conditions and chemicals that are found or made in your liver) and
abnormalities, such as gallbladder polyps, tumour markers (to measure chemicals produced
choledochal cysts (bile-filled cysts) and calcified by cancer cells).
gallbladder (also known as porcelain gallbladder).
Ultrasound scan – For this scan, you will lie down.
The main risk factor for bile duct cancer is long- A health professional called a sonographer will
term inflammation of the bile ducts. This may be spread gel over the affected part of your body, and
caused by liver problems such as hepatitis and fatty move a small device over the area. Soundwaves
liver disease. Other risk factors include exposure to are used to create pictures of the inside of your
certain chemicals in the printing industry, or having body. The ultrasound images are then projected
inflammatory bowel disease or liver conditions onto a computer screen. An ultrasound is painless
(which can cause scar tissue in the bile ducts). and takes about 15–20 minutes.
However, most people with these risk factors do not CT (computerised tomography) and/or MRI
develop cancer. (magnetic resonance imaging) scans – Special
machines are used to scan and create pictures of
Rare Cancers Australia have a directory of the inside of your body. During the scan you may
health professionals and cancer services have an injection of dye (called contrast) into one of
across Australia: [Link]. your veins, which makes the pictures
2
Understanding Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers
clearer. You will need to lie still on an examination
table which slides into a large metal tube. A
Staging gallbladder and bile
duct cancers
special type of MRI called magnetic resonance
cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) shows the The TMO system is used along with a number value
bile ducts in more detail. The scans are painless, from 0-IV.
though the MRI machine can be noisy.
Indicates the cancer is only in the
Diagnostic laparoscopy – You will be given a Stage 0 place of origin and has not spread to
general anaesthetic. The doctor will make small nearby organs.
cuts in your abdomen. A thin tube with a camera
Cancer cells have begun to spread
on the end (laparoscope) will be inserted into your
to nearby tissue but are not deeply
body so the doctor can see your gall bladder,
Stage I embedded. Lymph nodes are not
bile ducts and other parts of your abdomen. affected. This stage is also known as
early-stage cancer.
Cholangiography – This is an x-ray of the bile
ducts to see if there is any narrowing or blockage. The cancer is deeply embedded into
nearby tissue. Lymph nodes may or
Stage II
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde may not be affected. This is called
localised cancer.
cholangiopancreatography) – The doctor
inserts a flexible tube with a camera on the end
The cancer is larger and deeply
(endoscope) down your throat into your small embedded into surrounding tissue
intestine and into your bile duct while you are Stage III
and lymph nodes are usually affected.
sedated. The camera takes images of your gut. This is also called localised cancer.
Biopsy – This is the removal of some tissue The cancer has spread to other
from the affected area for examination under Stage IV parts of the body. This is known as
advanced or metastatic cancer.
a microscope. This can be done during a
laparoscopy, a cholangiography or by a thin needle
guided by ultrasound or CT scan.
Treatment
Gallbladder and bile duct cancers are rare, so
Staging you may want to talk to your doctor about being
Staging describes how far the cancer has spread. referred to a specialist treatment centre with a
Knowing the stage helps doctors plan the best multidisciplinary team (MDT) that regularly manages
treatment for you. this cancer. The MDT will work out the best
treatment, depending on the type and location of the
Gallbladder and bile duct cancers are staged using cancer; if the cancer has spread; your health; and
the TNM (tumour–nodes–metastasis) system, your own preferences.
which indicates the size of the tumour, whether it
has spread to nearby lymph nodes or if has spread You may also want to get a second opinion from
to other parts of the body. another specialist team to confirm or explain the
treatment options.
“When I heard the word cancer, my mind Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are
went completely blank. I was crying so the main treatments for gallbladder cancer and bile
duct cancer. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy
hard I didn’t hear a word the doctor said are also used to treat these cancers. You might have
after that. After a few days I started to one or more of these treatments – either on their
think more clearly again.” ESTHER own or combined.
3
Understanding Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers
Surgery Chemotherapy
Surgery is the most common treatment for Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth
gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer. For people of cancer cells. You may have one chemotherapy
with early-stage disease, the gallbladder can be drug, or be given a combination of drugs. This
completely removed and the bile duct openings is because different drugs can destroy or shrink
in the liver can be attached directly to the bowel. cancer cells in different ways. Your treatment will
Sometimes a stent (small tube made of plastic or depend on your situation and the stage of the
metal) will be inserted into the bile duct to help the tumour. Your medical oncologist will discuss your
bile flow past a blockage into the small bowel. The options with you.
extent of the surgery depends on the location and
stage of the tumour. Your surgeon will discuss the Chemotherapy is usually given through a drip into a
type of operation you may need and the side effects vein (intravenously) or as a tablet that is swallowed.
and risks of surgery. Chemotherapy is commonly given in cycles which
may be daily, weekly or monthly. For example, a
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is called a cycle may last 3 weeks – you have the drug over a
cholecystectomy. Often surrounding tissue few hours, followed by a rest period, before starting
including lymph nodes, bile ducts and part of another cycle. The length of the cycle and number of
the liver will also be removed. Surgery may be cycles depends on the drugs being given.
performed as either open surgery or keyhole
(laparoscopic) surgery. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses the
Radiation therapy body’s own immune system to fight cancer. There
Also called radiotherapy, radiation therapy uses are several different types of immunotherapy.
a controlled dose of radiation to kill or damage
cancer cells. External beam radiation therapy Targeted therapy
(EBRT) uses radiation from a large machine called Targeted therapy is a type of drug treatment. It
a linear accelerator. The radiation is usually from attacks specific cancer cell features, known as
x-ray beams. molecular targets, to stop the cancer growing and
spreading. Targeted therapy is not suitable for
You lie on a table and the machine delivers radiation everyone. Your doctors may test the cancer to see
to the targeted area. Each radiation session takes if the cells contain a particular molecular target.
10–20 minutes and is painless. A typical treatment
plan might involve a session of radiation therapy
Clinical trials
every weekday for 4–6 weeks. In some instances,
radiation therapy is given over a much shorter time
Your doctor may suggest you take part in a clinical trial.
period. The dose and duration of radiation therapy Clinical trials test new or modified treatments and ways
is decided by your radiation oncologist. of diagnosing disease to see if they are better than
current methods. For example, if you join a randomised
Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is trial for a new treatment, you’ll be chosen at random
sometimes used for bile duct cancer. In SIRT, tiny to receive either the best existing treatment or the
radioactive beads (microspheres) made of resin modified new treatment. Over the years trials have
improved treatments and led to better outcomes for
or glass are inserted into your body, and target the
people diagnosed with cancer. If you decide to take
tumour through the bloodstream.
part in a clinical trial, you can withdraw at any time.
Visit [Link] for more information
or contact the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group
For more information, see our (AGITG) [Link].
Understanding Surgery, Understanding ▶ See our Understanding Clinical Trials and Research
Chemotherapy and Understanding Radiation booklet or call 13 11 20.
Therapy booklets or call 13 11 20.
4
Understanding Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers
Side effects of treatment
All treatments can have side effects. The type of
Staying well during treatment
side effects that you may have and how long these
last will depend on the type of treatment and where
Seek support
in your body the cancer is.
Feeling a range of emotions after a
Some people have very few side effects and others cancer diagnosis is normal. You may
have more. Before your treatment begins, your feel overwhelmed, anxious, fearful,
angry, sad or lonely. Many people need
specialist team will discuss possible side effects, emotional support before, during and
both short-term and long-term (including those that after treatment. Adjusting to living
may not start immediately). with scars, changes to your physical
appearance, changes to your lifestyle
and how your body works can be hard.
It may help to talk with a counsellor,
psychologist, friend or family member.
Common side effects of treatment Talk to your medical team about what
support services are available to you.
▶ See our Emotions and Cancer
bleeding, damage to nearby
booklet or call 13 11 20 for support.
tissue and organs (including
surgery liver failure and bile leakage),
pain, infection, blood clots, weak
muscles (atrophy), lymphoedema Eat and drink well
fatigue, nausea and vomiting, liver If you have had your gallbladder
removed, bile made by the liver will no
radiation inflammation, bowel issues (such
longer be stored between meals. Bile
therapy as diarrhoea) skin problems, loss
instead will flow directly from your liver
of fertility
into your small intestine and there will
still be enough bile produced for normal
fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea digestion. You should still be able to eat
and vomiting, bowel issues (such a normal diet after your gallbladder is
removed, but it’s a good idea to avoid
as diarrhoea) hair loss, mouth
chemotherapy high-fat foods for a few weeks after
sores, skin and nail problems,
surgery while your body adjusts.
increased chance of infections,
loss of fertility, early menopause Eating well can help you cope with
some of the common side effects of
cancer treatment and help you recover
fatigue, nausea, skin rash and
faster. You can discuss individual
immunotherapy itching, joint pain, diarrhoea, nutrition with health professionals
dry eyes such as dietitians.
fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea,
constipation, sore mouth, blood Get active
targeted
pressure changes, appetite
therapy Research shows exercise can benefit
loss, bleeding and bruising, skin
people during and after cancer
problems, joint aches, headache
treatment. Being active can help you
cope with some of the common side
effects of cancer treatment and speed
up recovery. It can also improve quality
of life by giving you more energy,
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may keeping your muscles strong, helping
cause infertility. If you may want to have you maintain a healthy weight and
children in the future, it is important to boosting your mood.
discuss this with your treatment team before ▶ See our Exercise for People Living
starting treatment. See our Fertility and with Cancer booklet.
Cancer booklet or call 13 11 20.
5
Understanding Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers
Follow-up appointments Where to get help and information
After treatment, you will need check-ups every
3–12 months for several years to confirm that the Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for more information
cancer hasn’t come back. Between visits, let your about cancer. Health professionals can listen to your
doctor know immediately if you have new symptoms concerns, provide information, and put you in touch
or any other health problems. with local services and support groups. Ask for free
copies of booklets that may be relevant to you, or
download digital versions from your local Cancer
Council website:
If the cancer comes back
For some people, cancer does come back after ACT [Link]
treatment. This is known as recurrence. Depending NSW [Link]
on where the cancer comes back, treatment may
include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. NT [Link]/nt
▶ For free copies of Cancer Council’s booklets QLD [Link]
on Understanding Palliative Care, Living with
SA [Link]
Advanced Cancer and Facing End of Life, visit
your local Cancer Council website or call 13 11 20. TAS [Link]/tas
VIC [Link]
Question checklist WA [Link]
Asking your doctor questions will help you make an Australia [Link]
informed choice. You may want to include some of
the questions below in your list. Other useful websites
• What type of cancer do I have?
• What stage of cancer do I have? You can find many useful resources online, but not
• What are the treatment options for me? all websites are reliable. These websites are good
sources of support and information.
• What is the goal of the treatment?
• What are the possible risks or side effects Australasian Gastro-
of my treatment? Intestinal Trials Group [Link]
• How long will all the treatment take? Will I have to (AGITG)
stay in hospital? Pancare Foundation [Link]
• Is this treatment covered by Medicare or private
insurance? Will there be extra expenses? Rare Cancers
[Link]
Australia
Acknowledgements Note to reader
This information has been developed with help from health professionals Always consult your doctor about matters that affect your health. This fact sheet
and people affected by cancer. It was reviewed by: Dr Corina Behrenbruch, is intended as a general introduction and is not a substitute for professional
Colorectal Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital Fitzroy, Peter MacCallum Cancer medical, legal or financial advice. Information about cancer is constantly being
Centre, and The University of Melbourne, VIC. Dr Prasad Cooray, Medical updated and revised by the medical and research communities. While all care
CAN26415 09/25 © Cancer Council Australia 2025
Oncologist and Clinical Lecturer – The University of Melbourne Department of is taken to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, Cancer Council Australia
Surgery, Austin Health, VIC; Prof Jacob George, The University of Sydney and and its members exclude all liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by
Head, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Westmead Hospital and Western use of or reliance on the information provided in this fact sheet.
Sydney Local Health District, NSW; Dr Andrew Oar, Radiation Oncologist, Icon
Cancer Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 References
Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Nicole Williams, HepatoPancreatoBiliary (HPB) 1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Cancer Data in Australia
Nurse Consultant, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA. 2024, viewed August 2025, available from [Link]/reports/cancer/
cancer-data-in-australia
This fact sheet is funded through the generosity of the people of Australia. To support Cancer Council, call your local Cancer Council or visit your local website.
Cancer Council acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the
continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander cultures and to Elders past and present.