Guide To Treating Bile Duct Cancer

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of medications to kill cancerous cells. Some forms of chemo may be taken orally, while others are given intravenously. Chemo can be particularly useful when used prior to a liver transplant in patients with the hilar form of bile duct cancer. It may also be recommended for patients with a more advanced cancer to reduce symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. In addition to intravenous methods, some chemo may be given directly into a main artery in the liver. A separate process called trans-arterial chemoembolization may be performed to place tiny chemo beads into an artery that feeds the tumor. 

This type of chemo can be helpful for patients who have a form of cancer that cannot be treated surgically and for patients who are experiencing recurrent cancer. Some patients with bile duct cancer may be able to take oral chemo tablets. The most commonly prescribed ones include 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, cisplatin, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin. Sometimes, doctors may recommend that patients take two or more of these medications at one time. Possible side effects of these treatments vary. Patients generally experience hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sores in the mouth, and fatigue. They may also notice that they bruise or bleed easily, and they may experience numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands and feet.