Lucknow: Experts at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) have developed a new technique for treating gallbladder (or bile duct) cancer, which has emerged as an effective and affordable alternative to expensive immunotherapy. The treatment costs between ₹30,000 to ₹40,000, while immunotherapy can cost up to ₹18 to ₹20 lakh. This new combination therapy, which integrates chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has been successful in extending patients’ lifespan and alleviating their symptoms.
Professor Sushma Agarwal from the Department of Radiotherapy at SGPGI conducted a study on 140 gallbladder cancer patients with limited cancer spread. The results were promising, with 80% of the patients showing positive outcomes, and the treatment nearly doubling their life expectancy when compared to traditional chemotherapy.
Gallbladder cancer is difficult to treat with surgery, as only 10% of patients are eligible for surgical intervention due to the cancer’s widespread metastasis to other organs. This new technique has significantly reduced treatment costs, potentially benefiting more patients in the long run.
In India, gallbladder cancer is becoming increasingly common in younger women. It predominantly affects women between the ages of 45 and 49, while men are more commonly diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 59.
The causes of gallbladder cancer include genetics, high cholesterol levels in the gallbladder, gallstones, obesity, smoking, and contaminated drinking water. Common symptoms of this cancer include pain in the upper right abdomen, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, indigestion, vomiting, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
