Bile Duct Cancer
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Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is committed to providing you with the most comprehensive bile duct cancer treatment options available. Helping people with cancer is all we do, and we are dedicated to being a worldwide leader in this field. For years we have been on the leading edge of both conventional and complementary cancer treatment options. Encouraging you to be involved in every decision made concerning your treatment, CTCA wants you to fbe informed about, and have access to, the best possible treatment options for your needs. If you or a loved one are seeking treatment options for cancer of the bile duct, contact a CTCA Oncology Information Specialist today. You can also request an appointment.
Bile Duct Cancer Treatment Options
There are many conventional bile duct cancer treatment options that CTCA offers. Surgery is a common procedure that is utilized when it is feasible; it can often prevent complications such as blockage or bleeding in the future. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of radiation therapy that utilizes an advanced computer which plans a precise doses of radiation based on three dimensional representations off the tumor's size, shape and location. This approach to radiation therapy allows for a higher dose of radiation to be directed to the tumor, while possibly sparing more of the surrounding tissue.
Cancer of the bile duct may also be treated with chemotherapy. We may employ a fractioned dose chemotherapy approach for bile duct cancer patients because it allows for the cancer cells to be exposed to a powerful dose of the drugs for a longer period of time, while also possibly reducing the unpleasant side effects that a patient can experience with larger doses. While surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are common treatment options for bile duct cancer; we encourage you to contact an Oncology Information Specialist today. They can help you to explore all our conventional treatments as well as discuss a personalized approach that will best suit your needs.
To ensure that the bile duct cancer treatment plan developed for you meets all your needs as a patient, Cancer Treatment Centers of America looks to complementary therapy options in addition to the conventional methods. We feel it is important to address the emotional and spiritual needs of our patients along with their physical needs. In an effort to offer you the most well rounded treatment for cancer of the bile duct, we develop a plan that may include naturopathic medicine, spiritual support and nutritional therapy in addition to other complementary elements. When you contact CTCA to discuss cancer treatment options, you will not only be consulted by an oncologist specializing in conventional treatment, but also alternative medicine practitioners that can establish complementary treatments of your cancer of the bile duct.
Integrated Care for Cancer of the Bile Duct
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America we provide an integrated care plan that incorporates both conventional and complementary treatments. We realize that the impact bile duct cancer can have on a patient goes beyond the physical. The impact of cancer is physical, emotional and spiritual. CTCA not only realizes this, but uses this as a guide in creating a treatment plan for patients with cancer of the bile duct. CTCA works with each of our patients to provide a completely personalized treatment plan that is developed taking into account the unique medical conditions, needs and desires of the specific patient. We do more than treat the bile duct cancer, we treat the person. Contact an Oncology Information Specialist today, and learn more about the integrated bile duct cancer treatment options that Cancer Treatment Centers of America can develop to help treat your mind, body and spirit.
Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer Symptoms
The primary function of the bile duct is to transport bile from the liver to the small intestine where it aids in the digestion process by breaking down fats. The portion of the bile duct that is located outside the liver is referred to as extrahepatic, the smaller branches of the duct located inside the liver are intrahepatic. Extrahepatic bile duct cancer is when malignant cells form in the part of the duct outside the liver. This rare disease accounts for only about one or two cases for every person diagnosed in the United States each year.
Among the various symptoms of bile duct cancer, jaundice is the most common. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes which occurs when the liver cannot get rid of bile causing bilirubin, a chemical in bile, to back up into the bloodstream. In addition to the discoloring of the skin and eyes, jaundice can also cause itchy skin. It is important to note however, that the majority of jaundice cases are not caused by cancer of the bile duct, but rather by a stone escaping from the gallbladder, causing a blocking of the duct. Other bile duct cancer symptoms can include weight loss, loss of appetite, fever and pain in the abdomen. If you are experience symptoms of bile duct cancer you should consult with a doctor. There are Oncology Information Specialists standing by at CTCA to answer your questions about cancer of the bile duct. If you prefer you can also request an appointment and meet with one of our professionals one on one.
Personalized Bile Duct Cancer Treatment Options
If you, or someone you love, has cancer of the bile duct, let Cancer Treatment Centers of America develop a personalized care plan unique to you. Our approach is different because it is focused on treating not only the disease but the whole person. Give us a call at 1-800-615-3055, or contact an Oncology Information Specialist online, either with e-mail or through online chat and discover bile duct cancer treatment options that focus on your mind, body and soul today.
