Once diagnosed with 'cholangiocarcinoma', is it equal to death? Doctor: Let’s take a look at these 3 treatment options!

When it comes to cancer of internal organs, people think of liver cancer, gallbladder cancer, and digestive tract cancer. In fact, cancer is originally the product of cell DNA mutation and malignant proliferation. As long as there are areas where epithelial cells are distributed, cancer may occur.

　　For example, bile ducts can also become cancerous, which refers to malignant tumors originating from extrahepatic bile ducts, including bile duct malignant tumors from the hilar area to the lower end of the common bile duct.

　　So far, the clinical cause of cholangiocarcinoma is still not completely clear, but several factors related to its canceration have also been found. Such as bile duct stones, Clonorchis sinensis, bile duct cystic dilatation, primary sclerosing cholangitis and so on.

　　Among them, bile duct stones are one of the most important reasons. Nearly 1/3 of patients have bile duct stones, and 5-10% of patients with bile duct stones will develop cholangiocarcinoma, which is mainly related to the long-term stimulation of the epithelial tissue by the stones. .

　　As far as the clinical treatment is concerned, the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma is not ideal. When most patients are diagnosed, the best time for treatment has already been missed. This makes many cholangiocarcinoma patients feel desperate, and even equate the disease with death.

　　However, based on the current clinical data, there is no need to be overly pessimistic at all. Cholangiocarcinoma can also be treated. For example, the following treatments are commonly used in clinical practice:

1. Surgical treatment

　　Judging from the current clinical data, the most important treatment principle for cholangiocarcinoma is surgical resection for early stage patients, and it is also the only way to cure cholangiocarcinoma.

　　Especially in patients with carcinoma in situ, after radical surgery, the prognosis is better . Even patients who have entered the stage of invasive cancer can undergo surgical resection , and postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy can consolidate and improve the surgical effect and reduce the chance of recurrence .

　　For unresectable advanced cases, biliary drainage surgery can also control biliary tract infection, improve liver function, and improve patients' survival and quality of life;

　　2. Radiotherapy

　　As mentioned above, surgery is the only cure for cholangiocarcinoma. The adjuvant radiotherapy is only to consolidate the postoperative efficacy of patients and improve the survival rate of patients .

　　For patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma that cannot be surgically removed and local metastases , after effective biliary drainage , combined with radiotherapy can improve the symptoms of the patients.

　　Of course, cholangiocarcinoma has always been considered clinically not sensitive enough to radiation, and it is generally reported that the median survival time of cholangiocarcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy is about 9-12 months;

　　3. Chemotherapy

　　Chemotherapy, as the name suggests, refers to the use of chemical drugs to kill metastatic cancer cells in the body and shrink the original tumor. Compared with the previous two, chemotherapy is a systemic treatment method. No matter which route of administration is used, the drug can enter most organs and tissues of the body along with the blood circulation.

　　Unfortunately, cholangiocarcinoma is not sensitive to chemotherapy, so chemotherapy cannot cure cholangiocarcinoma. However, chemotherapy may relieve various symptoms caused by cholangiocarcinoma, and at the same time, it can improve the patient's survival treatment and improve the patient's survival period.

　　All in all, bile duct cancer is not equal to a terminal illness, nor is it completely equated with death. The effect of prognosis mainly depends on the patient's pathological stage, personal physical fitness, and choice of treatment methods.

　　Even if the advanced cholangiocarcinoma cannot be clinically cured, scientific and effective treatment can prolong the patient's survival period and improve the patient's future quality of life.