Bile Duct Cancer Treatment & Symptom

Bile duct cancer is a rare disease in which there are malignant cells in the tissues of the extrahepatic bile duct. The bile duct is a thin tube, about 4 to 5 inches long, that reaches from the liver to the small intestine. The part of the bile duct that is outside the liver is called the extrahepatic bile duct. Bile is a fluid made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Its main function is to break down fats during their digestion in the small bowel. In people who have had their gall bladder removed, bile flows directly into the small intestine. The bile ducts and gall bladder are known as the biliary system. Cancer is classified according to the type of cell from which it starts. Cancer of the biliary system almost always starts in a type of tissue called glandular tissue and is then known as adenocarcinoma. The most common symptom of bile duct cancer is jaundice, which occurs when the liver cannot get rid of bile, and one of the chemicals in bile called bilirubin that "backs up" into the blood stream causing a yellowing of the skin. However, jaundice is almost always due to hepatitis or a blockage in the bile duct. Other symptoms may include weight loss, loss of appetite, and fever. Early bile duct cancers usually do not cause pain. As the cancer spreads, pain may develop in the abdomen. More than 95 percent of bile duct cancers are adenocarcinomas, cancers of glandular cells that can develop in several organs of the body. Cholangiocarcinoma is another name for a bile duct adenocarcinoma and is what most doctors use when referring to all bile duct adenocarcinomas.

Causes of Bile Duct Cancer

Common Causes of Bile Duct Cancer :

• The exact cause of Bile Duct Cancer is unknown.
• Infections from a parasitic worm, called a fluke.
• An autoimmune disease, called primary sclerosing cholangitis.
• Chronic ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.
• Abnormal bile duct cysts.

Symptoms of Bile Duct Cancer

Some common Symptoms of Bile Duct Cancer :

• Weight loss.
• Poor appetite.
• Itching.
• Abdominal pain.
• Jaundice (yellowness of the skin)
• Weakness and fatigue.

Treatment of Bile Duct Cancer

• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the cancer cell's ability to grow or reproduce. Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells. The oncologist will recommend a treatment plan for each individual
• Surgery may be necessary to remove cancerous tissue, as well as nearby noncancerous tissue. Surgery may also be used to relieve blockage of the bile duct. Surgery may also be used to palliate or relieve symptoms.