What is Adenocarcinoma of the Biliary tree?
Adenocarcinoma of the biliary tree is high-grade cancer that originates from the epithelial cells of bile ducts. The biliary tree or system is consists of the liver, gall bladder, and bile ducts. This system makes, store and secrete bile juice. Bile juice breaks down the fats into fatty acids thus helping in digestion.
Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, but obesity, chronic inflammation of the gallbladder chronic inflammation of the biliary tract, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Salmonella typhus, H. pylori infection, liver fluke infestation, and a history of gallstones are the factors underlying the development of adenocarcinoma of the biliary tree.
Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
- Yellowish discolouration of the skin and the eyes (jaundice)
- Itching
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic techniques and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood coagulation profile
- BUN ( blood urea and nitrogen)
- Serum creatinine
- Liver function tests LFT’s
- Amylase and lipase values
- Imaging techniques like CT scan, MRI, PET scan, X-Ray, and USG to detect the site and size of the tumour.
- Serum bilirubin total, serum bilirubin conjugated and unconjugated
- Preoperative biopsy
Treatment
Surgical removal of the tumour is the most common and effective treatment option. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the treatment options in the advanced metastasis cases of the adenocarcinoma of the biliary tree.
What Support can we Give for Adenocarcinoma (Biliary tree)?
Adenocarcinoma (Biliary tree) is rare cancer, meaning it is not as well known as other forms of cancer. Without a Ribbon is an Australian organisation that provides support for individuals who suffer from rare cancers. We provide a designated platform for Warriors to obtain information specific to their Rare Cancer. We also provide annual opportunities for our Warriors to meet and learn from each other. If you suffer from rare cancer such as Adenocarcinoma (Biliary tree), we can help and support you through your journey thanks to the generous donations we receive. Click the link below to sign up and become a Warrior today!
You can help us with your donation:
Without a Ribbon is a charity that works hard to aid those who suffer from rare cancers. You can help our cause in a variety of ways:
Donations — Without a Ribbon is grateful when we receive every donation. Giving to Without a Ribbon helps us to provide ongoing support, organise the annual gathering and subsidise the costs of our Warriors attending these conferences.
Sponsorship — If you wish to sponsor our charity, please contact us using this form.
Volunteering — We are always looking for volunteers to help with different aspects of running our charity. So, if you are looking for volunteer work, please feel free to contact us.
