Hepatobiliary Cancer Treatment

Hepatobiliary cancers include malignant or cancerous tumors originating in the cells of the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder. The hepatobiliary system refers to the liver, bile ducts and gallbladder. These organs are essential for digestion and serve as important processing points for food, medicine, vitamins, minerals and toxins.

1%
1% of people will be diagnosed during their lifetime
64
64 is the median age of diagnosis
13th
13th most common type of cancer in the U.S.
74%
74% of all patients from 2011-2015 were male

What To Know

According to the National Cancer Institute, the projected incidence of primary liver and bile duct cancer in the United States for 2018 are as follows:

  • Approximately 42,220 estimated new cases
  • About 30,200 estimated deaths
liver graphic in dr hands, Hepatobiliary Cancer Treatment

Symptoms

Cancer that originally starts in the cells of the liver is known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatoma. The liver, located on the right side of the abdomen above the stomach, converts the foods we consume into the proteins and carbohydrates that our bodies use for energy. It also stores vitamins and minerals, breaks down toxins and produces bile. HCC is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world.

Many of the symptoms of hepatobiliary cancer are vague and hard to pinpoint, particularly in the earliest stages. Not all cancer in the liver is considered liver cancer. For example, if you are diagnosed with cancer in another part of the body, and it spreads to your liver, it’s called metastatic cancer. If you are experiencing worrisome symptoms or signs of hepatobiliary cancer, it’s important to contact your doctor for an appointment. Signs and symptoms of liver cancer can be found to the right.

  • Back pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal mass
  • Weakness
  • loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Jaundice
  • Vomiting

Screening & Diagnosing

Screening is testing to detect cancer in people with no existing symptoms. For people at higher risk of hepatobiliary cancers, such as those with chronic cirrhosis, doctors may recommend screening every six to 12 months.Two primary methods are typically used for screening hepatobiliary cancers:

  • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test: AFP blood tests are used to detect high levels of a certain protein in the blood that may indicate liver cancer.
  • Ultrasound: Ultrasounds use sound waves and echoes to produce an image of internal organs, which may reveal tumors in the hepatobiliary system.

Hepatobiliary cancers may be difficult to detect in the early stages. Smaller, early-stage tumors are often missed in physical exams because the liver and associated organs are blocked beneath the rib cage. Diagnostic tools for hepatobiliary cancers may include:

  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: ERCP is a procedure used to create images of the digestive tract. During an ERCP procedure, doctors insert a thin, lighted tube into the mouth and down through the stomach to produce an image of the surrounding organs and glands.
  • Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: MRCP is similar to an MRI, except that is uses specialized software to target the pancreas and bile ducts and create detailed images.
  • X-ray, CT, MR and PET scans are often needed to show the location and extent of the cancer. To confirm a diagnosis, doctors will need to remove a small piece of tissue from a tumor for testing. Often, a biopsy sample can be collected during an ERCP procedure, if one is performed.

Hepatobiliary Cancer Treatment

Depending on the location of the tumor, where the cancer originated, the stage of the cancer, and the overall health of the patient, several techniques may be used, either independently or together, to attempt to slow tumor growth or relieve pain.

Treating Liver Cancer

  • Partial surgical removal of the liver, if all the tumor can be removed
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Liver transplantation

Treating Bile Duct Cancer

  • Brachytherapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Liver transplantation

Treating Gallbladder Cancer

  • Surgical removal of the gallbladder and portions of the liver and lymph nodes
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
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Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, involves the precise application of radiation for a safe and effective way to treat cancer.

  • Radiation oncologists, specialists in cancer treatment, employ radiation therapy with objectives that include curing cancer, controlling its growth, or alleviating associated symptoms like pain.
  • Radiation therapy targets cancer cells, impairing their ability to reproduce. As these cells perish, the body naturally expels them.
  • While radiation also impacts healthy cells, unlike cancer cells, they have the capability to repair themselves.
  • After a diagnosis of liver, bile duct, or gallbladder cancer has been established, it’s important to talk about your treatment options with a radiation oncologist.

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External Beam Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation therapy involves a series of daily outpatient treatments to accurately deliver radiation to the area at risk.

  • Before beginning treatment, you will be scheduled for a simulation to map out the area being treated. This will involve having X-rays and/or a CT scan. You will also receive tiny tattoo marks on your skin to help the therapists precisely position you for daily treatment.
  • Treatment is given once a day, Monday through Friday, for about six weeks.
  • Newer technologies like 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are being evaluated for use in treating hepatobiliary cancers. Ask your radiation oncologist for more information on these treatments.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your hepatobiliary cancer treatment, explore the radiation therapy options at SERO. Our 30+ board-certified cancer doctors in Charlotte, NC and surrounding locations are proud serve patients across the Southeast.

Possible Side Effects

Common side effects of radiation therapy for patients with pancreatic cancer include loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. Side effects tend to accumulate over the course of treatment and subside within weeks or months of the final treatment.

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