Types and Goals of Treatment for Bile Duct Cancer
Different types of treatments have different goals. Below are the usual treatments for bile duct cancer, with their goals. You may have one or more of these types of treatment.
Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the bile duct tumor. If the cancer has spread, nearby tissue including lymph nodes may also be removed. Lymph nodes are infection-fighting glands located throughout your body.
Radiation therapy. The goal of radiation is to kill cancer cells with X-rays. This treatment is used to shrink a tumor before surgery or to treat any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Radiation therapy is often combined with chemotherapy to increase effectiveness. If surgery is not possible, combined radiation and chemotherapy may be used to treat the symptoms of bile duct cancer, such as pain.
Chemotherapy. This is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The goal of this treatment is to control the cancer for as long as possible in people who are not candidates for surgery to remove the tumor. Chemotherapy may follow another procedure, called stent placement, which clears bile duct blockages.
Stent placement. If your cancer is blocking the bile duct, your doctor may place a thin tube, called a stent, in the bile duct. It helps drain bile that builds up in the area. This is done to bypass the blockage that causes symptoms such as pain or yellow eyes and skin, called jaundice. A stent is placed temporarily until surgery is performed to remove the tumor or until a more permanent stent may be placed.
Doctors are always looking for new ways to treat bile duct cancer. These new methods are tested in clinical trials. Before beginning treatment, ask your doctor if there are any clinical trials to consider.