What is Cholangiocellular Carcinoma?
cholangiocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumour that can develop in the liver, gallbladder, and any part or duct of the biliary tract. The prognosis (The likely course of the disease) is poor.
Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, however, Liver Fluke infestation, chronic inflammation of the gall bladder, chronic inflammation of the biliary tree, gall bladder stones, bile duct stones, and primary sclerosing cholangitis are the risk factor for the development of papillary cholangiocellular carcinoma.
Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are
- Repeated pain in the abdomen
- Yellowish discolouration of the skin and the eyes (Jaundice)
- Constant body itching
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
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.
- Cholangioscopy (USG of the gall bladder and biliary tree)
- Cholangiography
- MRCP (Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
- Serum bilirubin total, serum bilirubin conjugated and unconjugated
- Preoperative biopsy
Treatment
Cholangiocellular carcinoma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease; therefore chemotherapy is the main treatment along with palliative care. Palliative care is multidisciplinary specialized medical care used for people living with some serious illness.
What Support can we Give for Cholangiocellular Carcinoma?
Cholangiocellular carcinoma is a 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 a rare cancer such as Cholangiocellular carcinoma, 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.
