India has one of the highest incidences of gallbladder cancer globally. Gallstones are the most significant risk factor — chronic inflammation from long-standing stones can lead to malignant transformation over years. Risk factors: gallstones (especially >3cm), porcelain gallbladder, polyps >10mm, anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction, PSC, female gender (3-4x higher risk), obesity, diabetes. Early warning signs: upper right abdominal pain (often first symptom), nausea, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice (bile duct involvement), abdominal mass (advanced), fever. Many gallbladder cancers are discovered incidentally after cholecystectomy for gallstones — incidental cancer has much better prognosis. This is a key reason symptomatic gallstones should not be left untreated indefinitely.

Gallbladder Cancer: Early Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore