How long can a person with bile duct cancer and ascites live? The patient's own situation is different

How long can patients with bile duct cancer and ascites live? When it comes to cancer, the first thing patients think of is their survival period. This is understandable. Biliary duct cancer is a relatively common hepatobiliary malignancy in clinical practice. The causes of the disease are complex and diverse, the harm is relatively large, and the prognosis is poor. Late-stage patients often have symptoms of ascites. So, how long can patients with bile duct cancer and ascites live?

There is no precise time frame for how long patients with cholangiocarcinoma who develop ascites in the late stage can live, because each patient has different conditions and chooses different treatments, all of which will affect the patient's ultimate survival time.

Patients may develop jaundice, which is a persistent jaundice that gradually worsens, accompanied by itching and weight loss. A small number of patients without jaundice present with upper abdominal pain, sometimes accompanied by fever and abdominal mass. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and weight loss. The stool is grayish white and white clay, and the urine is dark yellow, like strong tea. Decompensated liver function may cause ascites or edema of both lower limbs. Tumors invading or compressing the portal vein can cause portal hypertension; advanced patients may develop hepatorenal syndrome.

Patients may have biliary infection, and the most common bacteria are Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, and anaerobic bacteria. Endoscopy and interventional radiological examinations can induce or aggravate biliary infection, causing right upper abdominal pain, chills, high fever, jaundice, and even shock. If the tumor ruptures, it can lead to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, black stools, positive occult blood in the stool, and anemia.

The treatment principle of bile duct cancer is: surgical resection is the main treatment for early cases, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy to consolidate and improve the effect of surgical treatment. For advanced cases that cannot be resected, biliary drainage surgery should be performed to control bile duct infection, improve liver function, reduce complications, prolong life, and improve quality of life.