What are the treatments for bile duct cancer

What are the treatments for bile duct cancer? Biliary duct cancer is a type of cancer that is difficult to detect but progresses rapidly. If we do not take timely treatment measures to control the progression of the disease, cancer cells will metastasize, making treatment more difficult. So what are the treatments for bile duct cancer?

Cholangiocarcinoma refers to a malignant tumor of the extrahepatic bile duct that originates from the confluence of the left and right hepatic ducts to the lower end of the common bile duct. The disease progresses rapidly and is often discovered in the late stage. As for the treatment of advanced cholangiocarcinoma, the tumor is widespread and has a high chance of spreading and metastasizing, making it relatively difficult to treat. Clinically, the main treatments for advanced cholangiocarcinoma include palliative resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine.

1. Surgical resection

The tumor area of ​​advanced bile duct cancer is large and most of the time it has spread and metastasized, making it almost impossible to perform a radical resection. Clinically, for advanced bile duct cancer that can tolerate surgical resection, palliative local resection is still recommended, followed by other therapies for postoperative treatment, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine.

2. Chemoradiotherapy

Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy are important methods for the treatment of advanced bile duct cancer. For patients who have undergone surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can inhibit residual cancer. Before surgery for advanced bile duct cancer, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can shrink the tumor to a certain extent and increase the success rate of surgical resection. For patients with advanced bile duct cancer who cannot tolerate surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have a more direct killing effect on cancer cells and are more effective in improving symptoms.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment has gradually become an indispensable method for the treatment of advanced bile duct cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine combined with various Western medicine treatment methods can play a role in enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has gradually become the treatment principle for advanced bile duct cancer. Its treatment advantages are as follows:

1. Traditional Chinese medicine can reduce the side effects and complications of surgery in patients with advanced bile duct cancer;

2. The application of traditional Chinese medicine during radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced cholangiocarcinoma can reduce toxicity and increase efficacy;

3. After surgery for advanced bile duct cancer, long-term use of Chinese medicine after radiotherapy and chemotherapy can stabilize the condition, improve long-term effects, and reduce the possibility of recurrence and metastasis.

4. For patients with advanced bile duct cancer who cannot undergo surgery and chemotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine can improve symptoms, enhance quality of life, and prolong life.