| | | | | Staging and grading |
| Bile Ducts Cancer | | | | Stage 1A : - The cancer is contained within the |
| The bile ducts are the tubes connecting the liver | | | | bile duct. |
| and gall bladder to the small intestine (small bowel). | | | | Stage 1B : - The cancer has spread through the |
| Bile is a fluid made by the liver and stored in the | | | | wall of the bile duct but has not spread into |
| gall bladder. Its main function is to break down | | | | nearby lymph nodes or other structures. |
| fats during their digestion in the small bowel. In | | | | Stage 2A : - The cancer has spread into the liver, |
| people who have had their gall bladder removed, | | | | pancreas or gall bladder or to the nearby blood |
| bile flows directly into the small intestine. The bile | | | | vessels, but not the lymph nodes. |
| ducts and gall bladder are known as the biliary | | | | Stage 2B : - The cancer has spread into nearby |
| system. | | | | lymph nodes. |
| If the cancer starts in the part of the bile ducts | | | | Stage 3 : - The cancer is affecting the main blood |
| contained within the liver it is known as | | | | vessels that take blood to and from the liver, or |
| intra-hepatic. If it starts in the area of the bile | | | | it has spread into the small or large bowel, the |
| ducts outside the liver it is known as | | | | stomach or the abdominal wall. Lymph nodes in |
| extra-hepatic. This information concentrates | | | | the abdomen may also be affected. |
| mainly on extra-hepatic bile duct cancers. | | | | Stage 4 : - The cancer has spread to distant |
| Intra-hepatic bile duct cancers may be treated like | | | | parts of the body such as the lungs |
| primary liver cancer. | | | | If the cancer comes back after initial treatment, |
| | | | | this is known as recurrent cancer. |
| Causes and risk factors | | | | |
| These are : - | | | | Grading |
| Inflammatory bowel disease People who have a | | | | Grading refers to the appearance of the cancer |
| chronic inflammatory bowel condition, known as | | | | cells under the microscope and gives an idea of |
| ulcerative colitis, are at an increased risk of | | | | how quickly the cancer may develop. Low-grade |
| developing this type of cancer. | | | | means that the cancer cells look very like normal |
| Abnormal bile ducts People who are born with | | | | cells; they are usually slow-growing and are less |
| (congenital) abnormalities of the bile ducts, such as | | | | likely to spread. In high-grade tumours the cells |
| choledochal cysts, are more at risk of developing | | | | look very abnormal, are likely to grow more |
| cholangiocarcinoma. | | | | quickly and are more likely to spread. |
| Infection In Africa and Asia, infection with a | | | | |
| parasite known as the liver fluke is thought to | | | | Treatment overview |
| cause a large number of bile duct cancers... | | | | The type of treatment that you are given will |
| | | | | depend on a number of factors, including your |
| Signs and symptoms | | | | general health, the position and size of the cancer |
| If cancer develops in the bile ducts it may block | | | | in the bile duct and whether the cancer has |
| the flow of bile from the liver to the intestine. | | | | spread beyond the bile duct... |
| This causes the bile to flow back into the blood | | | | |
| and body tissues, and leads to the skin and whites | | | | Benefits and disadvantages of treatment |
| of the eyes becoming yellow (known as jaundice). | | | | Treatment can be given for different reasons and |
| The urine also becomes a dark yellow colour and | | | | the potential benefits will vary for each person. If |
| stools (bowel motions) are pale. The skin may | | | | you have been offered treatment that aims to |
| become itchy. Mild discomfort in the abdomen, | | | | cure your cancer, deciding whether to have the |
| loss of appetite, high temperatures (fevers) and | | | | treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure |
| weight loss may also occur... | | | | is not possible and the treatment is to control the |
| | | | | cancer for a period of time, it may be more |
| How it is diagnosed | | | | difficult to decide whether or not to go ahead. |
| Usually you begin by seeing your GP, who will | | | | If you feel that you can't make a decision about |
| examine you. They will refer you to a hospital | | | | treatment when it is first explained to you, you |
| specialist for any tests that may be necessary | | | | can always ask for more time to decide. |
| and for expert advice and treatment. | | | | You are free to choose not to have the |
| At the hospital the doctor will ask you about your | | | | treatment and the staff can explain what may |
| general health and any previous medical problems. | | | | happen if you don't have it. You don't have to |
| They will also examine you and take blood | | | | give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, |
| samples to check your general health and that | | | | but it can be helpful to let the staff know your |
| your liver is working properly... | | | | concerns so that they can give you the best |
| | | | | advice... |
| Laparotomy | | | | |
| If the doctor cannot make the diagnosis from the | | | | Please log on to : |
| above tests, a procedure called a laparotomy | | | | Send your query : Get a Quote |
| may be done under a general anaesthetic. This | | | | |
| involves making a cut (incision) into your abdomen | | | | We Care Core Values |
| so that the surgeon can examine the bile duct | | | | We have a very simple business model that |
| and the tissue around it for cancer. Sometimes | | | | keeps you as the centre. |
| this examination can be done through a tiny cut | | | | Having the industry’s most elaborate and |
| using a camera called a laparoscope – this | | | | exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination |
| procedure is known as keyhole surgery. | | | | teams stationed at each partner hospital, we |
| If a cancer is found, but looks as though it has | | | | provide you the smoothest and seamless care |
| not spread to surrounding tissues, the surgeon | | | | ever imagined. With a ratio of one Patient Care |
| may be able to remove the cancer or relieve any | | | | Manager to five patients our patient care |
| blockage that it is causing. | | | | standards are unmatched across the sub |
| | | | | continent. |