Found out I HAD gallbladder cancer

[kwelch10377]

So about 2 months ago I got my gall bladder out after about a year and a half of having issues with gall stones. When I went back for my follow up appt a week after my surgery the surgeon said to me that it was a good thing that I got it out bc it was starting to become malignant and that was all he said and sent me on my way. I was a little dumb founded, but figured if it was an issue he would have said more. I went to my physical yesterday and I asked my PCP what that really meant and if I should be concerned. Well she never received the info from the surgeon. She was able to pull it while I was there and read it over. It turns out that I did have gall bladder cancer and I was very lucky bc the only way to know someone has it at that very early stage is that you have to get it removed for another reason.

She doesn't think I have any cause to be concerned, but there were more labs done on my gall bladder at another hospital that she hasn't gotten them yet bc the messed up on what dr they went to, hopefully she will get them today. I am just really worried about my risk of developing cancer somewhere else. She did say that the cancer was only in the inner most part and it did not spread to the outside of the gall bladder or anywhere in the near by organs.

Has anyone had or know anyone who has had experience with this?

 

[krcit]

Wow! I don't know anyone that this has happened to but wanted to wish you well. Thank God they took it out

 

[Ember]

My mom recently died of gallbladder cancer. From the research I did, your doctor is right. Gallbladder cancer is a nasty one because by the time it becomes apparent it's too late and the diagnosis is nearly always fatal. Having caught it early, before it spread outside the gallbladder greatly reduces the risk of it having spread anywhere. You may want to discuss screenings in the future, but it sounds like everything is okay.

"Complete removal of all tumor through surgery is the only actually "curative" method of treating the cancer."

*http://ecanceranswers.net/gallbladder_cancer.php

From the same site:

"Catching cancer early is always important, and this holds true also of gallbladder cancer. Of those patients who are diagnosed in stage 1, there is a 70 to 85 percent five-year survival rate. For those caught in stage 2, it drops significantly to 25 percent. In stage 3, it's 12 percent, and in stage 4, only one to two percent."

It still must be scary but it sounds like you have guardian angel taking care of you!

 

[Luvchefmic]

I am so happy for you that it was taken out...no I don't know anything about it but please keep the faith, and just make your PCP get you all the answers you want.

 

[kwelch10377]

Ember - I am so sorry about your mom.

I do feel so lucky. I did try to avoid getting it taken out and just changing my diet to avoid eating anything that caused me to have a gall bladder attack. It worked for a while but back in Dec I started having them again and just couldn't take it anymore and pretty much told my dr if a surgeon didn't take it out I was going to do it myself.

I just keep thinking that the decision to finally get it out pretty much saved my life.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

What?!! OMG! You lucked out on this one. Someone's watching over you!

 

[Ember]

Ember - I am so sorry about your mom.

I do feel so lucky. I did try to avoid getting it taken out and just changing my diet to avoid eating anything that caused me to have a gall bladder attack. It worked for a while but back in Dec I started having them again and just couldn't take it anymore and pretty much told my dr if a surgeon didn't take it out I was going to do it myself.

I just keep thinking that the decision to finally get it out pretty much saved my life.

Anytime I hear of anyone beating cancer now, I cheer inside. It sounds silly to be thinking of us vs. them when the "them" is cancer, but I still do it... I'm really glad you're going to be okay.