Gallbladder cancer
Gallbladder cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages.
If you do get symptoms, they can be similar to the symptoms of other gallbladder problems such as . So many people are only diagnosed if they have their gallbladder removed to treat these.
Other symptoms of gallbladder cancer can be vague. And many symptoms start once the cancer has spread. Unfortunately, this means the cancer is often already when it is first diagnosed.
You can get an aching feeling in the upper right side of your abdomen if you have gallbladder cancer. Some people describe it as a dragging feeling.
Sometimes you can get a sharp pain. This can happen if the cancer or a gallstone blocks the .
Jaundice can be caused by a blockage in your biliary system. This means that cannot drain into the small bowel. The symptoms of jaundice may include:
yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin – skin colour changes can be more difficult to see in people with black or brown skin
severe itching
dark pee
pale coloured poo
Jaundice is due to a build up of .
Bile contains bilirubin. If cancer blocks the common bile duct, the bile can't drain into the bowel as it normally would. This causes bilirubin to build up in your blood and body tissues. The bilirubin makes your skin and the whites of your eyes look yellow, and your skin itch.
Bilirubin from your bowel normally leaves your body in your poo. And bilirubin in your blood leaves your body in your pee. But as there is more bilirubin in your blood and less in your bowel, your body removes more of it in your pee. This makes your pee darker than normal, and your poo lighter.
You may feel or be sick. This could be due to the cancer, pain or jaundice. Sickness might make you lose your appetite which can lead to weight loss.
If your bile duct is blocked, your gallbladder can fill up with bile and get swollen and enlarged.
Your doctor may be able to feel if your gallbladder is enlarged when they examine you. But it can be difficult as your gallbladder is deep in your upper abdomen. Your doctor may be able to tell if it is swollen on an .
Find out how you have an ultrasound scan
Gallbladder cancer can cause other symptoms. These include:
loss of appetite (anorexia)
loss of weight without dieting
feeling tired and weak
a swollen tummy due to a build up of fluid (ascite
a blockage in your small bowel (bowel obstruction) – symptoms include being sick, abdominal pain and not being able to pass wind or poo. Bowel obstruction is an emergency. See a doctor straight away if you have these symptoms
Some of these symptoms are quite vague. And all of them can be found in health problems that are far more common than gallbladder cancer. But the earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. So, see your GP if you have any of these symptoms.
Read tips on seeing your GP if you have symptoms of gallbladder cancer
Last reviewed: 08 Oct 2026
Next review due: 08 Oct 2029
Gallbladder cancer is cancer that starts in part of the digestive system called the gallbladder. It is a rare cancer in the UK and more common in women than men.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and how long you have had them. They might ask you to have some tests or refer you to see a specialist.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They might refer you for tests or to a specialist if you have symptoms that could be caused by gallbladder cancer.
There isn't a screening programme for gallbladder cancer in the UK. This is because there isn't a test that can pick it up at an early stage.
The stage of a cancer tells you about its size and whether it has spread. The grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
Factors that increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer include age, gallstones, gallbladder polyps and being overweight. Read about these and other risk factors.
