Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, develops in the tubes called bile ducts that connect the liver and the gall bladder. The bile ducts are responsible for carrying the digestive liquid bile which is a waste product of the liver. The cancer usually causes narrowing of the bile ducts and disturbs their function. Bile duct cancer can be of the following types: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: It develops in the parts of the bile ducts inside the liver. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: It develops in the bile ducts that are situated right outside of the liver. Distal cholangiocarcinoma: It develops in the part of the bile duct that is close to the small intestine.
The symptoms of bile duct cancer include: Jaundice Irritation on the skin Pale stools Fatigue and weakness Pain in the abdomen area Unusual weight loss
Bile duct cancer develops when the bile duct cells go through certain genetic changes called mutations. These mutated cells combine and form a cancerous tumour. The cause of these genetic mutations in still unclear.
The doctor diagnosis bile duct cancer by conducting several tests on the patient which help in indicating the presence of cancerous cells in the bile duct. ... Tumor marker test Liver function test Examining the bile duct with a small camera Biopsy Imaging tests
Surgery During surgery, the doctors try to remove the tumour from the patient’s body. The deceased part of the bile duct is removed and the ends are joined back together. Liver transplantation In this procedure, the doctor removes the diseased liver from the patient’s body and replaces it with a healthy liver donated by another person. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy involves the usage of drugs to destroy the cancerous cells. It reduces the growth of the cancer and helps in controlling the symptoms. Radiation therapy Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy beams produced by a radiation machine or by the radioactive substances to kill the cancer cells. Biliary drainage Biliary drainage helps to restore the flow of bile. The doctor may carry a bypass surgery to make a new passage for bile drainage. This process also helps in controlling the signs and symptoms of bile duct cancer.
Bile duct cancer can be prevented by getting a vaccination for hepatitis B virus, taking precautions to avoid blood-borne or sexually transmitted infections, treating hepatitis infections (such as B and C) to help prevent cirrhosis and quitting smoking and drinking.
