Gallstones anyone

Hi Elisab 

I am sorry you have developed a gallstone. I can imagine that’s both painful and worrying. I haven’t had this experience so can’t offer any particular insight but didn’t want your post to go unanswered. 

Thank you for replying. I am still hoping someone here has some information about getting it when you have cancer. I can’t find any information anywhere.

Hi Elisab 

I had a different cancer but on diagnosis was found to have gallstones. They were left until I had finished my cancer treatment and later surgery as they weren’t causing bother.

However, they grew over time, and eventually one large one blocked my bile duct and I got a serious bacterial infection. I had 2 ERCP procedures to try and remove the stone-one unsuccessful and the second one successful. I was very unwell and had pancreatitis, cholecystitis and cholangitis, and was told I would need to have my gallbladder removed as I would continue to get infections which can become serious very quickly. 

I eventually had surgery to remove my gallbladder in September 2023. It’s a bit of a different situation to yours, but thought it might help to know what can happen.

Sarah xx

Thank you so much for replying. So you had to wait for some time before you had the operation to take the stone out.  I have now got an initial assessment in July for having it removed. It is a long wait. Then it will be more wait. I wonder what will happens to my cancer if I can’t go back on Ribociclib until then. I am on cancer medication for life. 
Thanks for sharing your experience 

I had nothing done until the large gallstone became an issue and made me very ill by blocking the bile duct.

The successful ERCP (done while I was awake with some sedation which didn’t work) was done at the beginning of April 2023, and the stone was removed from my bile duct, but I still had multiple smaller gallstones remaining in my gallbladder. These could have moved like the big one did and block the bile duct again, so my gallbladder needed to come out to prevent that.

I had surgery to remove my gallbladder 6 months later at the beginning of September. In that 6 month period I had no issues, luckily. At that time I wasn’t on any cancer treatment as I’d had surgery to remove everything in my pelvis in 2020., 

Is your assessment in July to prepare for your gallbladder to be removed completely? 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah

Thank you so much for replying. 

My assessment in July 2026 is an initial assessment. I don’t know what they will decide. The stone is fairly big. They saw it on the CT scan. About 4 cm they said. Because I have breast cancer in my liver I don’t know what else they will suggest. I am on Ribociclib so that lower my immune system. At the moment I haven’t got back on the Ribociclib because today is the last day of my antibiotics. No one have told me if I can go back on it tomorrow. Next Tuesday I have an appointment with the Oncologist and a blood test. Maybe I should wait and ask them then. 

Hi , They found secondary bc in ny liver due to gall stones . I got an infection and was sent home with antibiotics . They then focused on my. Cancer treatment (Abemacibilib and Letrozole). There was no follow up with my gallbladder and 5 month later it flared up again but I got sepsis and was in hospital for 10 days . They tried Iv antibiotics but it then became a medical emergency as my gall bladder started to necrotise (gangrene). I was very lucky i survived and had to have an emergency operation to remove my gall bladder. I had a 2 week break off my cancer treatment . I’m not trying to scare you but I would make sure they follow up on the gall stones. It doesn’t always lead to what I went through but better to be checked! I’ve been stable for 2 years 9 months and still on the same bc treatment. Good luck xx

The hospital informed Christies what had happened and I got a call from my consultant who advised to have another week off treatment. I would contact your nurse or secretary and ask for advice regarding when you can restart treatment x

Sorry, just read another of your posts. I don’t think you’ll need to stay off treatment until July . Mine was very serious and I only took a week break after I was discharged. Contact your cancer nurse and they will advise . Xx

Thank you