Biliary cancer begins in various parts of the liver. There are different kinds of bile duct cancer, and they are named for the cells where they begin to form. While not as common as other cancer types, these cancers can happen to people of all ages. They are most common in those over the age of 50.
There are two kinds of bile duct cancer. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts within the liver. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts that are just outside of the liver. Distal cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the part of the bile duct that is nearest to the small intestine.
The symptoms of all of these bile duct cancers are quite similar and include:
These cancers are caused when the cells in the bile ducts suffer changes and mutations to their DNA. This makes them divide more often than they should, forming tumours. In some cases, cells from the tumours in the bile ducts can split off and travel to other parts of the body, causing different kinds of cancers in other body parts.
The risk factors for this kind of cancer are:
Liver function tests are often needed to diagnose this kind of cancer, and a tumour marker test might be done to look for levels of CA 19-9 in the blood. This is a protein that is overproduced by bile duct cancer cells, and it can indicate this kind of cancer. Small cameras can be used to examine the bile ducts in some patients.
CT scans and MRIs might be used to get imaging of the liver as well. Biopsies of the affected body parts are usually required to confirm the kind of cancer and its location. An oncologist will identify the kind of cancer that is present, and they will also stage the cancer. This impacts the form of treatment that is used to attend to the cancer.
Treatment of this cancer requires that tumours be removed from the bile ducts if possible. Chemotherapy is often necessary to prevent the growth of cancer cells in other parts of the body, and radiation therapy that is targeted at the location of the tumours can help to prevent the regrowth of cancer cells after surgery.
Targeted drug therapy can be successful in some patients, and heating of the cancer cells has been shown to be useful in preventing the regrowth of tumours. Biliary drainage can be used to restore the flow of bile that has been interrupted by tumours, and bypass surgery can also be done to help preserve the function of the liver and other affected organs. A liver transplant might be the best option for patients with advanced bile duct cancer.
It is not always possible to prevent this form of cancer. If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking as this increases your risk for biliary cancer. You should also make sure not to abuse alcohol and to eat a healthy diet and exercise. Chronic liver disease is associated with this kind of cancer, so making sure to adhere to your doctor’s recommended treatment plan for your liver health issues is key to preventing biliary cancers. Always make sure that you avoid exposure to things like toxic gases and chemicals as well.