Bile Duct Cancer Health Article

Clinical trials

Studies of new treatments in patients are known as clinical trials. These trials seek to compare the standard method of care with a new method, or the trials may be trying to establish whether one treatment is more beneficial for certain patients than others. Sometimes, a new treatment that is not being offered on a wide scale may be available to patients participating in clinical trials, but participating in the trials may involve some risk. To learn more about clinical trials, patients can call the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1-800-4-CANCER or visit the NCI web site for patients at <http://www.cancertrials.nci.nih.gov>.

Prevention

Other than the avoidance of infections caused by liver flukes, there are no known preventions for this cancer.

Resources

BOOKS

Ahrendt, Steven A. and Henry A. Pitt. "Biliary Tract." In Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, edited by Courtney Townsend Jr., 16th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2001, pp. 1076-1111.

Callery, Mark P. and William C. Meyers. "Bile Duct Cancer."In Current Surgical Therapy, edited by John L. Cameron, sixth ed. St Louis: Mosby, 1998, pp.455-161.

"Cholangiocarcinoma." In Clinical Oncology, edited by Abeloff, Martin D., second ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2000, pp.1722-1723.

ORGANIZATIONS

The American Cancer Society. Phone: 1-800-ACS 2345. Web site: <http://www.cancer.org>.

National Cancer Institute Cancer Information Service. Phone:1-800-4-CANCER. Web site: <http://www.nci.nih.gov>.

American Liver Foundation. Phone: 1-800-GO-LIVER (1-800-465-4837). Web site: <http://www.liverfoundation.org>.

Kevin O. Hwang, M.D.

Angiography

—Radiographic examination of blood vessels after injection with a special dye

Cholangiography

—Radiographic examination of the bile ducts after injection with a special dye

Computed tomography

—Radiographic examination by which images of cross-sectional planes of the body are obtained

Jaundice

—Yellowish staining of the skin and eyes due to excess bilirubin in the bloodstream

Lymphatic

—Pertaining to lymph, the clear fluid that is collected from tissues, flows through special vessels, and joins the venous circulation

Metastasis

—The spread of tumor cells from one part of the body to another

Resection

—To surgically remove a part of the body

Stent

—Slender hollow catheter or rod placed within a vessels for duct to provide support or maintain patency

Ultrasound

—Radiographic imaging technique utilizing high frequency sound waves

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR

• Has my cancer spread?
• What is the stage of my cancer and what does that mean for my prognosis?
• What treatment choices do I have?
• What are the risks or side effects of the treatment you recommend?
• What are the chances my cancer will come back after treatment?