This is a new technique that can help to control but not cure the symptoms of bile duct cancer. During the procedure, a special chemical is injected into the bile duct, which makes the cancerous cells more sensitive to light. A laser is then passed through an endoscope and used to shrink the tumor.
Follow-up care
If you have completed your treatment for biliary duct cancer, your doctors would still want to observe your condition. Therefore, its important that you attend all your follow-up appointments.
During these visits, your specialist will examine you and may check lab tests or x-rays and scans to look for signs of cancer or treatment side-effects.
Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some may last for a few weeks to a couple of months and a few can last for the rest of your life. Inform your doctor about any changes or problems you notice and about any questions or concerns you have.
There’s no follow-up schedule for bile duct cancer but many doctors recommend blood and/or imaging tests about every six months for at least the first couple of years after treatment.
If the cancer does come back (recur), further treatment will depend on location of the cancer, what treatments you’ve had before, and your overall health.
How long does it take to recover from bile duct surgery?
Most patients stay in hospital for around a week after the surgery and take about a month or two months to return to normal activities. Recovery basically depends on a couple of factors including patient’s general health profile, stage of cancer and also the treatment of choice.
How complicated is bile duct removal surgery?
Surgery for bile duct cancers is complicated, therefore, it requires a great skill and precision. Usually, part of the liver is also removed, along with the bile duct, gallbladder, nearby lymph nodes, and sometimes part of the pancreas and small intestine too.
What are bile duct surgery complications?
Surgery for bile duct cancer is a major operation that might mean removing parts of other organs. This can have a major effect on a person’s recovery and health after the surgery. Serious problems soon after the surgery can include bile leakage into the abdomen, infections, and liver failure.
What are common foods to avoid bile duct cancer?
Taking the nutritious diet and supplements including omega-3 fatty acids, specific oral nutrition supplements, vegetables and fruits, folate, insoluble fiber and Vitamin C, etc., may help reduce the risk of cholangiocarcinoma/bile duct cancer. It may even improve cancer related problems in cholangiocarcinoma patients. However, consuming alcohol or smoking, having a family history of cancer, obesity or consuming high nitrate foods, preserved vegetables and salted meats may increase the risk of bile duct cancer/cholangiocarcinoma and therefore, it should be avoided. Additionally, taking Vitamin D3 as part of the diet along with chemotherapy drugs may increase the treatment induced toxicity in cholangiocarcinoma patients. Hence, one should avoid these foods and supplements to reduce the risk and improve treatment outcomes in bile duct cancer/cholangiocarcinoma.
It is important that patients should discuss it with their doctor or nutritionist and personalize nutrition based on their specific cancer type and ongoing treatments so as to gain maximum benefits.
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