2. Jaundice: The Yellow Invader That’s Hard to Miss
When skin and eyes turn yellow, it’s often attributed to jaundice, a condition resulting from the buildup of bilirubin. While jaundice can occur for several reasons, its link to gallbladder cancer is noteworthy. This symptom emerges when the cancer obstructs the bile ducts, leading to a buildup of bilirubin. Interestingly, this isn’t always a late-stage manifestation; jaundice can appear in earlier stages too.
It’s worth noting that jaundice doesn’t just alter skin and eye color. It often brings about a chain of other bodily changes. For instance, the urine may darken while stools become lighter. It’s as if the body is waving a yellow flag, signaling that something is terribly off. But unlike the universal ‘caution’ that yellow signals in our daily lives, in this case, the message is far more dire.
However, the mechanism behind jaundice in gallbladder cancer is unique. The cancerous cells can cause inflammation and scarring in the liver, leading to impaired bilirubin processing. Essentially, the liver’s normal cleansing system goes haywire, resulting in the telltale yellowing.
Delving into biochemistry, bilirubin is a byproduct of the breakdown of old red blood cells. It’s usually processed by the liver and eliminated from the body. However, when gallbladder cancer interferes with this process, bilirubin accumulates, causing the symptom we see. It’s like a traffic jam in your liver, where everything comes to a grinding halt. (2)
