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Different types of treatments are available to patients with gallbladder cancer. The main types of treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, and treatment to help with symptoms. The type of treatment that is best for you depends on several factors, including the type of gallbladder cancer you have, the stage of cancer, your overall health, and your preferences. During your gallbladder cancer treatment, you will be looked after by a team of doctors who specialize in different aspects of treatment, including a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a gastroenterologist, and a surgeon.
Surgery is the main treatment for early-stage gallbladder cancer. The following are types of surgery performed to treat gallbladder cancer:
Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. In some cases, a small amount of liver that surrounds the gallbladder may also be removed (called an extended cholecystectomy).
Radical gallbladder resection involves the removal of the gallbladder, a part of the liver near the gallbladder, all or part of the ligaments between the intestines and the liver, the common bile duct, as well as the lymph nodes around the pancreas and blood vessels near the area.
Surgery is generally performed under general anesthetic, so you will not feel anything throughout the procedure.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells or to stop them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy: external and internal. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside of the body, while internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in a device that is placed near or directly into cancer. The most common type of radiation therapy for gallbladder cancer is external radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop cancer cells from dividing. It can also kill cancer cells. The drug can be injected into a vein or muscle or taken by mouth. In some cases, the drugs may also be placed directly into the affected organ.
Treatment to help with symptoms
Also known as palliative care, this type of treatment aims to slow down cancer and to help you manage symptoms that may occur. For instance, if your bile ducts are blocked due to advanced gallbladder cancer, your surgeon can place a stent in a duct in order to hold it open or reroute bile ducts around the blockage.
For surgical procedures, you need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days and stay in Armenia for at least 7 to 14 more days for follow-up checkups. For radiation therapy and chemotherapy, your length of stay depends on your treatment plan (how many cycles of therapy you need).
The recovery time for surgical procedures may take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of surgery you underwent and the technique your surgeon used. Side effects after radiation therapy and chemotherapy usually subside within several weeks or months.
Your medical team will give you a set of aftercare instructions after any type of treatment. It is important that you follow all of the instructions carefully to avoid complications. The instructions may include a special diet, light exercises, wound care (for surgical procedures), and restrictions.
Make sure to eat a healthy and balanced diet, avoid bad habits (such as smoking), and exercise regularly after you have recovered. You will also need checkups with your doctor for the rest of your life. Regular medical care is important to stay healthy. Regular checkups are necessary to ensure cancer has not come back.
Gallbladder cancer treatment can be effective and successful. In many cases, treatments may even put you in remission (when cancer cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms).
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy all come with potential risks and side effects. These include infection, bile leakage, and damage to a bile duct, bleeding, swelling, blood clots, heart problems, pneumonia, hematoma, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
Some people choose to take part in a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a research study that is used to obtain more information on new treatments or to improve current treatments. Currently, treatments called radiation sensitizers are being tested. Radiation sensitizers include hyperthermia therapy (a treatment in which high temperatures are used to kill cancer cells) and radiosensitizers (a treatment that involves the use of drugs that can make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy). Patients who take part in clinical treatment help improve the way cancer will be treated in the future.
Before you receive treatment, your gallbladder cancer can cause uncomfortable symptoms, may spread to other parts of the body, and may even become dangerous. After treatment, your chance of surviving the cancer is increased. In some cases, you may even be put in remission, meaning no cancer cells are found in your body.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Armenia has become a premium destination for medical tourism since the hospitals and clinics in the country are staffed with highly qualified professionals. This country has had a long association with medicine. Its 12th-century physician, Mkhitar Heratsi made a great contribution to numerous medical fields. Also, many Armenians helped to invent important medical innovations, such as the MRI machine and PET scan. These facts, coupled with lower costs high-quality healthcare, draw medical tourists from all around the world and most medical tourists come to this country for cosmetic surgery.
Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan, is the largest city in the country as well as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. This city offers a perfect mix of ancient and modern as century-old buildings sit side by side with modern structures. With outdoor cafes lining its tree-filled boulevard, you can feel the vibrant atmosphere. The second-largest city in Gyumri which is filled with excitement as you will find trendy cafes and nightlife venues that are starting to pop up in the city. You can explore amazing museums, such as the Museum of the Aslamazyan Sisters and the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life of Gyumri. Another popular place to visit is Dilijan, which is billed as the ‘Switzerland of Armenia.’ This city offers extremely beautiful scenery and pleasant weather.
Zvartnots International Airport is the main international airport in Armenia. This airport serves flights to and from many European and Asian cities, such as Paris, Dubai, Moscow, and Seoul. Since the country is pretty small, there are no domestic flights. Buses and trolleybuses run in cities, while taxis are widely available in city centers. Taxi fares should be negotiated before a journey as taxi drivers tend to overcharge.
Citizens from various countries, including Brazil, Australia, the UK, and the US, can visit and stay in Armenia for up to 180 days. Most other nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival or e-visa. It is best to check with the nearest Armenian embassy or consulate in your area.
December to February are the winter months, with cold temperatures and snowfall in the northern region. Spring, between March and May, is very pleasant with rain showers in March and April. Summer lasts from June to September, characterized by hot temperatures, long and dry days, as well as blue skies. In autumn, the temperatures will become cooler.