Bile Duct Cancer Surgery, Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment in Turkey

Bile is the digestive juice made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder that travels across the bile duct during the process of digestion. Cancer of the bile duct, called cholangiocarcinoma or cholangio adenocarcinoma is an aggressive cancer that affects the bile duct, and hence digestion. The signs are difficult to diagnose at an early stage as they may appear after the progression of the disease. Know more about the disease progression bile duct cancer surgery, and cholangiocarcinoma treatment in Turkey. 

Symptoms of Cholangiocarcinoma

Symptoms that indicate liver bile duct cancer include

• Jaundice or yellow discoloration in the eyes or on the skin
• Abdominal discomfort
• Rapid weight loss

• Itching that leads to an urge to scratch all over the body

   

  

   

  Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment

  Bile tumors are removed upon their early diagnosis as surgery alone will not be enough if the tumor progresses. Based on that, the tumors in the bile duct can be categorized as resectable or removable and unresectable or non-removable. A liver transplant is an option for unresectable tumors, however, removable tumors are treated with the following types of surgeries:

• Staging Laparoscopy

Staging laparoscopy is the diagnostic procedure in which the healthcare provider gets an understanding of bowel duct cancer progression. To undergo laparoscopy, a small incision is made in the belly button from where a laparoscope is inserted, which is a flexible tube with a camera attached. Through a laparoscope, the areas of cancer spread are examined which helps the doctor set the treatment plan.  

• Bile Duct Resection

  The affected part or the entire bile duct is removable if the tumor is growing outside the liver. Then a new duct is added that connects the patient’s healthy bile duct to the intestine. Bile duct resection surgery may also involve the removal of the nearby lymph nodes and checking them for cancer. 

• Liver Resection

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma refers to the cancer of the bile duct that lies inside the liver. Liver resection or partial hepatectomy involves the removal of a portion of the liver or its tissues that are affected by bile duct cancer.   

• Whipple Procedure

  Whipple procedure or pancreaticoduodenectomy is a complex procedure that involves removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (a part of the bile duct, duodenum, and gall bladder), a portion of the stomach, and surrounding lymph nodes that may get affected by the tumor.

Other Approaches for Biliary Cancer Treatment

Where chemotherapeutic medications work as effective cholangiocarcinoma supportive therapy, new treatments for bile duct cancer include:  

• Internal radiation therapy

In this, a radioactive seed is seated directly on the tumor after the surgery. It helps the nearby tissues from getting side effects whilst killing the tumor.

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

This new treatment method destroys tumor tissues through a photosensitizer that sits on it. The photosensitizer is nontoxic, but when it is activated by light at a certain wavelength, it becomes toxic, destroying the local tissue. It’s a newer promising way of treating inoperable bile duct cancer. 

• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses drugs, vaccines, and other therapies to activate the natural defense mechanism of the body that can fight cancer. FDA-approved immunotherapies for bile duct cancer are yet to be established.

• Hepatic artery infusion (HAI)

When intravenous chemotherapy is not helpful, the drug is directly injected into the liver through the main artery using a pump that is placed in the liver. Hepatic artery infusion is given in combination with other drugs.

Cholangiocarcinoma Cancer Treatment in Turkey

The renowned healthcare facilities offer bile duct cancer surgery, and cholangiocarcinoma treatment in Turkey that can increase life expectancies. Patients with cholangiocarcinoma or their caretakers can contact Zeoby for the required assistance in selecting a hospital, finding the best practitioners and oncologists, and also for planning their trip to Turkey. Compare prices, find clinics, and get travel arrangements all in one spot.