Bile duct bypass surgery.
Can stage 4 bile duct cancer be cured.
It may not be possible to cure the cancer.
Because of this doctors generally divide bile duct cancers into.
A network of tubes called ducts connects the liver gallbladder and small intestine this network begins in the liver where many small ducts collect bile a fluid made by the liver to break down fats during digestion the small ducts come together to form the right and left hepatic ducts which lead.
If you have advanced bile duct cancer it might be very hard to treat.
The cancer is on the surgical bed liver and intestine connection along with scar tissue.
Biopsies or cell washings can be obtained to look for cancer cells.
Went through chemo and radiation 2008 and chemo again dec 2011.
There are three kinds of surgery that may be done for stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
If time permits it is often a good idea to seek a second opinion particularly for a rare cancer like bile duct cancer.
Typically the surgeon either inserts a tube to hold the duct open or.
You may need regular doses of chemotherapy radiation or other treatments to keep it in check.
Whenever possible surgery is the main treatment for bile duct cancers.
It cannot be distinguished how much is tumor and or scar tissue.
For example if the 5 year relative survival rate for a specific stage of bile duct cancer cholangiocarcinoma is 30 it means that people who have that cancer are on average about 30 as likely as people who don t have that cancer to live for at least 5 years after being diagnosed.
A second opinion can give you more information and help you feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose.
Diagnosed in 2007 with tumor in my bile duct had surgery dec 2007 to remove the bile duct with the tumor in it.
Bypass surgery is an option if the tumor is blocking the common bile duct.
Finding out the cancer cannot be cured can be very hard news to take in.
If a blockage is found during the same procedure the gastroenterologist may be able to place a stent to keep the duct open and allow bile to drain.
Bile duct cancer is a rare disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the bile ducts.
It offers the only realistic chance for a cure.
If this is the case the aim of your treatment will be to limit the cancer and its symptoms and help you live longer.
Even if your cancer can t be cured you can have surgery to treat the blocked bile ducts and relieve some of your symptoms.
In others it may never go away entirely.