Is there hope for gallbladder cancer?

My Mom (76 years old) was recently diagnosed with advanced gallbladder cancer.  We are told by the surgeon it is not operable at this time as it has become systemic and spread to the lymph nodes and portacaval nodes.  They are suggesting chemo to get rid of the cancer in the lymph nodes and then surgery to remove the gallbladder and part of the liver.  Has anyone else been in the same situation?  Has anyone tried tumor profiling to help determine the best type of chemo to use?  Prognosis and all I read is not good.  Can anyone explain what happens to ones quality of life with this cancer?  What symptoms will my Mom experience?  Currently she has few symptoms especially since she received a stent.  Please help.  Thank you.

Hi there. My mom had gallbladder cancer and is now 4 years cancer free.

Here is the story: 

Back in 2005 my mom had her gallbladder taken out at the ER. When she went back to the doctor to have her staples taken out the Dr told her they found cancer in her gallbladder. He also said that when he removed the gallbladder he immediately knew it had cancer so he did a quick look around the area and removed a lymph node that looked 'suspicous'. He confirmed that the gallbladder cancer had spread to the lymph node he removed. We then went days later to an oncologist who told us he was convinced that the cancer had spread to other areas so he sent my mom for surgery to see if there was any other cancer. So about a few weeks later she had her surgey. They removed a piece of her liver and some of the tissues around the gallbladder area (I don't even know what it was exactly he removed). After her surgery we were told that no other cancer was found so that was good news. So here is the situation: my mom had gallbladder cancer that had spread only to one lymph node nearby and that's it. After she recovered from the surgery she was asked to take chemotherapy along with radiation for 6 weeks to prevent recurrence. She went through the chemo and radiation just fine and never lost her hair or suffered any serious side effects. Overall she went through everything well but she did have pain after her surgery but that was normal. My mother is a strong women who never gives up. Today my mom is alive and couldn't be happier and is still cancer-free.

 As for your other question:

My mother didn't have tumor profiling to help determine the best type of chemo. After her surgery the Dr gave her a chemo called Fluorouracil along with something called  leucovorin. This was all to prevent a recurrence since she did not have cancer. Since your mother currently has cancer she might be given a more powerful chemo.

As for quality of life, well I pretty much explained above. She is doing fine and enjoying life! Like you, I did research and learned that this type of cancer had a poor prognosis. I was scared at first too.

The only sympton my mom had was pain in the gallbladder area before she had it removed. The doctors at the ER refused to remove her gallbladder at first but my mom kept on bugging them to take it out so they did it.

I hope this helped you out. Remember that there is always hope.

Thank you.  This is about the best I've heard.  I'm so happy your mom is well.  Did her oncologist have experience with gallbladder cancer?  I'm looking to find a good oncologist now.  I've been to UCLA and hear that teaching hospitals are the best for this rare cancer.

Her oncologists was very experienced but siad that he had only treated a few people with Gallbladder cancer because it is rare. By the way I live in Chandler,Arizona. She goes to the Ironwood Cancer & Treatment Center.

Hi, 

My mom was diagnosed with stage IV gallbladder cancer, it had spread to her lymph nodes in her neck and underarm.  Because it had spread to an area away from the gallbladder the only thing her oncologist offerred was chemo and that was to giver her a few more months.  When we found out in February of this year(2009) that she would have only 3  - 4 months without treatment, and 6-7 months with chemo.  We couldn't believe it.  She had no symptoms and felt fine.  They put her on Gemzar for her chemo but she developed fluid around her heart and then her lungs.  Due to this she only went through one round of chemo.  By the time we got all of the other issues taken care of it had spread too far to treat (August).  She passed away just over a month ago (9/23).  For treatment we went to Providence in Portland, and got a second opinion from OHSU.  Neither seemed very equipped to handle Gallbladder cancer, but it doesn't seem that there are many experts anywhere for this type of cancer.  The one place we wanted to try was MD Anderson in Texas.  They try a lot of cutting edge things and it was the one place in the US that was actually doing clinical trials specific to GBC.  The other place that may be closer  that our oncologist recommended for new therapy was the Loma Linda clinic/hospital.  I wish you luck.

Someone on another board suggested Dr. David Imagawa at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA.  He is tops in this field and very responsive to inquiries, so I hear.

m.

My Mom has seen him once and we have a follow up appointment with him on Monday.  He was very doom and gloom on the first visit and told my Mom she had about six months to live.  We've also been to UCLA and have seen Dr. Busuttil.  He trained Dr. Imagawa.  He said surgery was not an option since it had spread.  I'm not giving up and have started my Mom on some supplements that might help.

Hello again "Hopeful".  Let us know how your Mom's  follow-up appointment goes with Dr. Imagawa. Your mother's case sounds pretty advanced, but sometimes chemo, which probably will not cure, can at least slow or stop the progression for a while and give your Mom some extended good life.

My thoughts are with you,  M.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom.  GBC is a nightmare.  Thank you for sharing.

Thanks I will let you know how the appointment goes.