Bile Duct & Gallbladder Cancer
Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers exceptional medical and surgical treatment for bile duct and gallbladder cancers. Our subspecialized team of medical oncologists and surgeons employ groundbreaking research and the latest diagnostics and therapies to give you the very best odds at beating cancer.
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We’re here for the things you can’t plan for. Hoag is the OC’s top choice for world-class, comprehensive cancer care with cancer survival rates that continuously exceed national averages.
Leading Expertise, Innovative Research & Advanced Technology
Subspecialized Medical Oncologists
Hoag physicians are subspecialty trained and board-certified medical oncologists focusing on gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers as well as early-phase clinical research. They are not only singularly focused on GI; they are honed in on helping you heal and move on with your life.
Meet our Medical OncologistsWorld-Class Hepatobiliary Surgeons
Hoag’s team of board-certified, fellowship-trained hepatobiliary surgeons focus specifically on bile duct and gallbladder cancers. With advanced training in minimally invasive and robotic techniques, they spend every day operating on patients with conditions just like yours.
Meet our SurgeonsAccess to the Latest Clinical Trials
Through innovative clinical research, Hoag physicians explore the efficacy of new drugs, therapies, medical devices and clinical and surgical methods – ensuring you have access to the most advanced treatments available. With a range of available trials in the areas of bile duct and gallbladder cancers, Hoag’s early development (phase I and II) clinical trials provide options beyond the typical standard of care.
Find clinical trials that may be right for you.Targeted Therapies Tailored to You
At Hoag Family Cancer Institute, radiation therapy is tailored to each individual patient. In some cases, it may include intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). In every case, treatment is adapted to you.
Learn About Treatment OptionsAdvanced Interventional GI
Accurate diagnosis and advanced, noninvasive treatment options are key to treating bile duct and gallbladder cancer. Hoag’s advanced imaging techniques, precise endoscopic diagnosis and staging, as well as noninvasive endoscopic treatment methods mean you receive the very best care.
Hoag Family Cancer Institute Locations:
All-Inclusive Cancer Care Nearby in Orange County
Patty & George Hoag Cancer Center
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian 1 Hoag Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Hoag Cancer Center Irvine
Hoag Health Center Irvine-Sand Canyon 16105 Sand Canyon Ave. Irvine, CA 92618
Marilyn Herbert Hausman Advanced Technology Pavilion
Lower campus of Hoag Hospital Newport Beach 1 Hoag Dr. Newport Beach, CA 92663
Hoag Medical Oncology – Huntington Beach
19582 Beach Boulevard, Suite 219, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
World-Class Cancer Treatment. Right here in OC.
Hoag is the top choice for cancer care in Orange County, with cancer survival rates that continually exceed national averages. Our dedicated, world-class teams are wholly focused on helping you survive cancer, heal and move forward with your life.
Bile duct cancer (also known as biliary cancer or cholangiocarcinoma) is cancer that occurs in the tubes that connect your liver, gallbladder and small intestine and which carry bile, a bodily fluid that helps our bodies digest food.
There are three main types of bile duct cancer:
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Sometimes categorized as a cancer of the liver, this type occurs in the portions of the bile ducts that are inside the liver.
- Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: Also called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, this type involves cancer of the bile ducts that are near to the liver but still outside it.
- Distal cholangiocarcinoma: Also known as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, this type of cancer occurs in the bile duct that’s nearest to the small intestine.
The symptoms of bile duct cancer can be different for every patient, and can be similar to symptoms of other, less-serious conditions. Common symptoms can include:
- Unexplained fever, weight loss, fatigue, dark urine or night sweats
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Intense itching
- Pain in your abdomen just below your ribs on the right side
- Stools that appear white
There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing bile duct cancers. These include:
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis: a condition that scars and hardens the bile ducts
- Congenital bile duct issues: These may include being born with irregular bile ducts, or a choledochal cyst.
- Chronic liver disease
- Being older, as most cases occur in people over age 50
- Smoking
- Diabetes
Ways to reduce your risk of developing bile duct cancer include:
- Take steps to avoid contracting diabetes, including maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and eating less sugar
- Don’t smoke
- Doing what you can to avoid chronic liver disease, including drinking in moderation and being careful to avoid drugs that might harm your liver
Gallbladder cancer is cancer that begins in the gallbladder, which is a small, pear-shaped organ located behind the liver that stores and releases bile. Produced in the liver, bile is a fluid that helps your body digest fats from the food you eat as it passes through the small intestine.
According to the American Cancer Society, the vast majority of gallbladder cancers are adenocarcinomas that begin in the glandlike cells that line the surface of the gallbladder.
Other, rarer types of gallbladder cancer include:
- Adenosquamous carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Carcinosarcoma
Gallbladder cancer often presents no symptoms in its early stages. However, some known signs of gallbladder cancer can include:
- Pain in the abdomen, particularly in the upper-right part of the abdomen
- Unexplained, recurring nausea or vomiting
- Jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. In gallbladder cancer cases, jaundice is usually caused by a blockage of the bile ducts that can cause a chemical called bilirubin to build up in the blood
- Lumps in the abdomen, which can be caused by swelling in the gallbladder or liver
- Loss of appetite
- Dark-colored urine
- Light-colored or greasy stools
- Unexplained weight loss
- A swollen abdomen
- Unexplained skin itching
There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing gallbladder cancer. These include:
- A history of gallstones, which are small, stone-like structures that can develop in the gallbladder. Gallstones are common, and most people who have them will never develop gallbladder cancer. However, the American Cancer Society says that up to 4 out of 5 people diagnosed with gallbladder cancer have gallstones at the time of their diagnosis
- “Porcelain gallbladder,” which is a condition in which the walls of the gallbladder become covered in calcium.
- Obesity
- Family history of gallbladder cancer
- Smoking
- Being female, as gallbladder cancer is three to four times more common in women than men, according to the American Cancer Society
- Being older, as the disease is most often diagnosed in those over age 65. The average age of diagnosis with gallbladder cancer is 72 years old, according to the ACS
- Being of Mexican, Latin American or Native American heritage, as gallbladder cancer risk is highest for those groups
- Having choledochal cysts, which are cysts that occur on the common bile duct that transports bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine
- A history of gallbladder polyps, which are bulges that form in the gallbladder
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis, which is a scarring condition caused by inflammation of the bile ducts
Bile duct cancer (also known as biliary cancer or cholangiocarcinoma) is cancer that occurs in the tubes that connect your liver, gallbladder and small intestine and which carry bile, a bodily fluid that helps our bodies digest food.
There are three main types of bile duct cancer:
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Sometimes categorized as a cancer of the liver, this type occurs in the portions of the bile ducts that are inside the liver.
- Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: Also called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, this type involves cancer of the bile ducts that are near to the liver but still outside it.
- Distal cholangiocarcinoma: Also known as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, this type of cancer occurs in the bile duct that’s nearest to the small intestine.
The symptoms of bile duct cancer can be different for every patient, and can be similar to symptoms of other, less-serious conditions. Common symptoms can include:
- Unexplained fever, weight loss, fatigue, dark urine or night sweats
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Intense itching
- Pain in your abdomen just below your ribs on the right side
- Stools that appear white
There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing bile duct cancers. These include:
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis: a condition that scars and hardens the bile ducts
- Congenital bile duct issues: These may include being born with irregular bile ducts, or a choledochal cyst.
- Chronic liver disease
- Being older, as most cases occur in people over age 50
- Smoking
- Diabetes
Ways to reduce your risk of developing bile duct cancer include:
- Take steps to avoid contracting diabetes, including maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and eating less sugar
- Don’t smoke
- Doing what you can to avoid chronic liver disease, including drinking in moderation and being careful to avoid drugs that might harm your liver
Gallbladder cancer is cancer that begins in the gallbladder, which is a small, pear-shaped organ located behind the liver that stores and releases bile. Produced in the liver, bile is a fluid that helps your body digest fats from the food you eat as it passes through the small intestine.
According to the American Cancer Society, the vast majority of gallbladder cancers are adenocarcinomas that begin in the glandlike cells that line the surface of the gallbladder.
Other, rarer types of gallbladder cancer include:
- Adenosquamous carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Carcinosarcoma
Gallbladder cancer often presents no symptoms in its early stages. However, some known signs of gallbladder cancer can include:
- Pain in the abdomen, particularly in the upper-right part of the abdomen
- Unexplained, recurring nausea or vomiting
- Jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. In gallbladder cancer cases, jaundice is usually caused by a blockage of the bile ducts that can cause a chemical called bilirubin to build up in the blood
- Lumps in the abdomen, which can be caused by swelling in the gallbladder or liver
- Loss of appetite
- Dark-colored urine
- Light-colored or greasy stools
- Unexplained weight loss
- A swollen abdomen
- Unexplained skin itching
There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing gallbladder cancer. These include:
- A history of gallstones, which are small, stone-like structures that can develop in the gallbladder. Gallstones are common, and most people who have them will never develop gallbladder cancer. However, the American Cancer Society says that up to 4 out of 5 people diagnosed with gallbladder cancer have gallstones at the time of their diagnosis
- “Porcelain gallbladder,” which is a condition in which the walls of the gallbladder become covered in calcium.
- Obesity
- Family history of gallbladder cancer
- Smoking
- Being female, as gallbladder cancer is three to four times more common in women than men, according to the American Cancer Society
- Being older, as the disease is most often diagnosed in those over age 65. The average age of diagnosis with gallbladder cancer is 72 years old, according to the ACS
- Being of Mexican, Latin American or Native American heritage, as gallbladder cancer risk is highest for those groups
- Having choledochal cysts, which are cysts that occur on the common bile duct that transports bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine
- A history of gallbladder polyps, which are bulges that form in the gallbladder
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis, which is a scarring condition caused by inflammation of the bile ducts
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