TARGET THERAPY in Gallbladder Cancer treatment

Gallbladder treatment, chemotherapy has been found to show limited or very less results. Researchers are coming up with a new line of treatment , known as TARGET THERAPY. These drugs are used in combinations of chemotherapy  drugs are now being tested for people with gallbladder cancer.

TARGET THERAPIES

These kind of therapies, are usually drugs or substances that targets the specific molecules in cancer cell growth. In contrast to the chemotherapy drugs, who act against cell division to stop their growth.

These drugs are target oriented and target parts of cancerous cells or  around their neighboring environments. Many of these new drugs target cells with specific changes in gene(s).

One such target are the tumor blood vessels. Gallbladder tumor require the new blood vessels to grow beyond a certain size. Such target drugs are said to really effective especially  in the treatment of Gallbladder cancer. For instance  Bevacizumab (Avastin®) and pazopanib (Votrient®) are examples of drugs that target blood vessel growth and are being studied for their use against gallbladder cancer.

Many other drugs have different targets For example, a protein, EGFR found in high amounts on certain types of cancer cell, is said to be helping the cancer cells in their growth. Drugs such as lapatinib (Tykerb®) and cetuximab (Erbitux®), are now being studied for  their usage in patients with gallbladder cancer,  along with chemotherapy and other targeted drugs.

Drugs such as MEK inhibitors, selumetinib and such as trametinib (Mekinist®) and, are also being studied for their use in the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Courtesy: www.cancer.org

After Gallbladder Surgery

If your doctor has suggested for removal of gallbladder.  Then it is better to get it removed, so as to avoid a lot of problems. Major being the inflammation of gallbladder which may turn out to be cancerous.

Function of gallbladder

The gallbladder collects bile, a fluid that is produced by the liver, and releases it when you eat to help the breakdown and absorption of fats. Between meals, bile collects in the gallbladder and is concentrated. When the gallbladder is removed, bile is less concentrated and it drains continuously into the intestine. This affects digestion of fat and fat-soluble vitamins in the body. How much -the problem depends on the individuals health. With time, the body ofcourse gets adjusted and becomes better at digesting fats.

What to eat after gallbladder removal surgery?

1. Eat in small portions frequently.
2. Include small amounts of protein, along with whole grains, vegetables and  fruit and  grains.
3. Avoid fats 
4. Include fiber in your diet. Start in small amounts and then gradually increase it.
5. After gallbladder surgery, many people find it difficult to digest caffeine or dairy products. So be careful!!

For more queries, even your silliest doubt -ask your doctor. He is the right person. Remember one can live without gallbladder but some care is obviously required.