Bile Duct Cancer is an uncommon form of cancer that occurs mostly in people over the age of 50, although it can occur at any age. Treatment may generally include a liver transplant, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, and biliary drainage. However, surgery is the main form of treatment that offers a realistic chance of cure.
As those afflicted with this cancer tend to be older, they may be unable to tolerate and recover from a significant operation. The decision regarding surgery is individualized for the specific patient and their situation. The surgery takes 3 to 5 hours on average.
About 40 to 60 per cent of patients undergo surgery that completely removes the tumour and survive for another 24 months on average. For patients who cannot have the tumour removed completely, the average survival rate is 21 months.
The cost of treatment in India starts from USD 1,090. The five-year survival rate for intrahepatic bile duct cancer is 8 per cent. If it is diagnosed early, the survival rate goes up to 24 per cent. However, if the cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, the survival rate is 7 per cent.
