Bile Duct Cancer: Newly Diagnosed
Being told you have bile duct cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions.
But you have people on your healthcare team to help.
Coping with fear
It’s normal to feel afraid. Learning about your cancer and about the treatment options
you have can make you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your healthcare
team and make the best choices for your treatment. You can also ask to speak with
a counselor.
Working with your healthcare team
Your healthcare team will likely include:
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Medical oncologist. This healthcare provider specializes in treating cancer. Medical oncologists help
coordinate cancer care and generally use medicines (like chemotherapy or targeted
therapy) to treat cancer.
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Hepatologist or gastroenterologist. This healthcare provider specializes in treating diseases of the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract and liver, including the bile ducts.
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Gastrointestinal surgeon or surgical oncologist. This healthcare provider treats diseases of the GI tract with surgery.
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Radiation oncologist. This healthcare provider specializes in treating cancer with radiation.
These providers will answer any questions you may have. They’ll help you through each
of the steps you’ll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you
know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They’ll guide you in making
treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what’s ahead.
Learning about treatment options
To decide the best course of treatment for you, your healthcare team needs to know
as much as they can about your cancer. This may involve getting blood and imaging
tests and working with more than one healthcare provider. And you may decide that
you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment.
Getting support
Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your healthcare team about seeing
a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You may also want to visit
a support group in person or online to talk with other people coping with cancer.
Ask your healthcare team about local support groups.