Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
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Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
Treatment for bile duct cancer
Some people may have surgery to remove part of the liver or to insert a stent. Chemotherapy is a common
treatment. This uses drugs to kill or damage cancer cells so they cannot grow or spread, and is usually given through a drip into a vein. External beam radiation therapy may be used for advanced bile duct cancer. This uses radiation to kill or damage cancer cells. SIRT, an internal radiation therapy, may be an option. Rarely, some people may be able to have a liver transplant.
For more details about these treatments refer to ‘Treatment for liver cancer‘.
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This information is reviewed by
This information was last reviewed June 2020 by the following expert content reviewers: Dr David Yeo, Hepatobiliary/Transplant Surgeon, Royal Prince Alfred, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Cancer Centre and St George Hospitals, NSW; Dr Lorraine Chantrill, Head of Department Medical Oncology, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW; Michael Coulson, Consumer; Dr Sam Davis, Interventional Radiologist, Staff Specialist, Royal Brisbane and Women‘s Hospital, QLD; Prof Chris Karapetis, Network Clinical Director (Cancer Services), Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Head, Department of Medical Oncology, Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University, SA; Dr Howard Liu, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Lina Sharma, Consumer; Dr Graham Starkey, Hepato-Biliary and General Surgeon, Austin Hospital, VIC; Catherine Trevaskis, Gastrointestinal Cancer Specialist Nurse, Canberra Hospital and Health Services, ACT; Dr Michael Wallace, Western Australia Liver Transplant Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA.