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Researchers continually work to find new treatments for bile duct cancer. People with it now have more hope for survival than ever before.
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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.
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Surgery is commonly used to treat bile duct cancer. It is currently the only treatment that can sometimes cure bile duct cancer in people whose cancer has not spread. The type of surgery your doctor chooses depends on the exact location of the cancer and how far it has spread. Here are some surgical options for bile duct cancer.
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You may be overwhelmed with the information that you receive from your doctor. It is important to take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about surgery for bile duct cancer.
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After surgery, you may be in an intensive care unit (ICU). There you can be watched closely by nursing staff. When you have recovered from the surgery, you'll be moved to a regular nursing unit to continue to recover. Care after surgery is called postoperative care. It focuses on monitoring how much you eat and drink and checking for the return of normal bowel function. These are some potential side effects or complications after surgery.
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Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation can be used before surgery to shrink the size of a tumor. This may make surgery easier and more effective. It may also be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that were missed or could not be removed during surgery. If surgery is not possible, you may have radiation to help ease symptoms.
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Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells.
Radiation therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. It begins with a planning visit to map out your treatment. During the treatment course, you'll meet with your doctor on a routine basis. After your therapy is done, you will have one or more follow-up visits to check your progress. Keep all your appointments.
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Radiation therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. Your radiation therapy team will work with you. Together you will set treatment goals, make a plan, and carry out the treatment. To be an active member of this team, ask questions when you don't understand what is happening. And let your team know how you're doing.
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You may be often overwhelmed with the information you receive from your doctor. It is important that you take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about radiation therapy.
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Radiation affects both normal cells and cancer cells. This means it can cause side effects. What they are depends on what part of your body is treated and what type of radiation you receive. If you have internal radiation therapy, you will be less likely to have side effects. These are some common side effects of external radiation.
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Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. With bile duct cancer, chemotherapy may be used for these reasons.
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You may be often overwhelmed with the information you receive from your doctor. It is important that you take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor and nurse about chemotherapy.
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Because chemotherapy drugs also damage some normal cells, you may have side effects from chemotherapy. These depend on the type and amount of the drug you take, as well as the length of treatment. These are possible temporary side effects after chemotherapy. They're listed in order from the most to least common.
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If the cancer is blocking your bile duct, your doctor may place a thin tube called a stent into the bile duct. It helps keep the duct open and drain bile that builds up in the area. This bypasses the blockage that causes symptoms such as pain, or yellow eyes and skin, called jaundice.
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You may be overwhelmed with the information that you receive from your doctor. It is important to take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about stent placement for bile duct cancer.
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The stent may be removed when you have surgery. Or it may be left in place and removed after surgery. If you had stent placement using a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC), you may temporarily have a bile collection bag secured to your abdomen. Your doctor and nurse will tell you about any other things you may need to watch out for.
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Doctors are studying other possible treatments for bile duct cancer in clinical trials. Here are 4 currently being studied.
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