What is the bile duct cancer that Captain Heo Young-ho suffered from? A comprehensive guide to bile duct cancer symptoms, survival rates, stage 4 diagnosis, and treatment.

What is bile duct cancer? Why you need to know.

 

Have you all seen the news that world-renowned mountaineer Captain Heo Young-ho recently passed away after battling bile duct cancer?
Even he, who had traveled the world, including the Himalayas, was powerless against bile duct cancer…

It's really sad, and at the same time, it makes you realize how scary this disease is.

So today, let's talk about 'What is bile duct cancer?'
I'm going to tell you a story that we all need to know and move on from.

 

 

 

Bile duct? What's that?

The 'bile duct' is the passage through which bile produced in the liver flows to the duodenum.
Because the structure spreads out like tree branches, the symptoms vary depending on where the problem occurs.

 

When cancer cells develop somewhere in this passage, it is called 'bile duct cancer'.
It is broadly divided into intrahepatic bile duct cancer (approximately 20%) and extrahepatic bile duct cancer (approximately 80%).

 

 

 

What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer?

One of the reasons bile duct cancer is so scary is that symptoms are rare or vague.

 

The most common symptom is jaundice.
A phenomenon in which the eyes become yellow or the urine becomes darker in color.

 

Symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, indigestion, and chronic fatigue also often occur.

But the problem is… most of these symptoms are similar to everyday fatigue symptoms, so it’s easy to overlook them.

 

In particular, intrahepatic bile duct cancer has no symptoms.
Often, cancer is discovered only after it has progressed significantly.

 

 

 

What causes bile duct cancer? Why does it occur?

In fact, the cause of bile duct cancer is rarely clearly identified.
However, the main known causes are:

 

• - Chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C
  - Gallstones, liver flukes (eating freshwater fish raw)
  - Cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
  - Old age, family history, genetic factors
•  

In Korea in particular, liver fluke infection is considered one of the main causes.

 

If you like freshwater fish, it might be a good idea to get tested at least once!

 

 

Bile Duct Cancer Survival Rates: The Reality Is Sobering

The 5-year survival rate for bile duct cancer is approximately 20-30%.
Compared to other cancers, the survival rate is relatively low.

 

Moreover, the rate of surgery possible at the time of diagnosis is only 30-40%.
This means that it is a cancer that is difficult to detect early.

 

But there is hope.

Thanks to recent advances in anticancer treatments, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy,
The treatment effect is noticeably improving.

 

Bile duct cancer treatment: what should be done and how?

Treatment for bile duct cancer varies greatly depending on the location and size of the cancer, whether it has invaded surrounding organs, and whether it has metastasized.
Therefore, a personalized treatment strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment is important.

 

1. 1. Surgery (priority if possible)

2. - Intrahepatic bile duct cancer → liver resection
   - Distal biliary tract cancer → Whipple surgery to remove the pancreas, bile duct, and duodenum
   - Hepatic cholangiocarcinoma → Depending on the location, part of the liver and bile duct may be removed.
3. 
   However, only about 30-40% of cases are eligible for surgery at the time of diagnosis.
4.  

2. Chemotherapy (if surgery is difficult or adjuvant therapy)

• 
  - Performed as an adjuvant when surgery is not possible or the risk of recurrence after surgery is high
  - Recent emergence of triple-drug combination therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy → Treatment response rate increases to 45-50%
  - Targeted therapies such as futibatinib are highly effective in patients with specific mutations.
•  

3. Radiation therapy

• 
  - The role is to accurately target cancer cells to reduce their size or relieve pain.
  - The purpose is to extend the survival period in cases where surgery is difficult and metastasis is frequent, such as biliary tract cancer in the porta hepatica.
•  

4. Multidisciplinary treatment system

• 
  - Gastroenterology, surgery, hematology, oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, etc. come together to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient.
  - Even in cases where surgery is difficult, chemotherapy opens up the possibility of surgery.
  - Designing an appropriate treatment combination based on overall condition
•  

5. No giving up on treatment even for terminally ill patients

• 
  - Even in stage 4 bile duct cancer, chemotherapy can reduce the cancer and create an opportunity for surgery.
  - Treatment that maintains quality of life is also possible through multidisciplinary pain management.
•  

In fact, one patient had peritoneal metastases.
There are cases where people recovered after active treatment and were able to eat and even travel.

 

 

What's really important in treating bile duct cancer?

Bile duct cancer progresses quietly in the early stages and is difficult to diagnose.
Through active treatment and systematic care
There is definitely a possibility of saving life.

 

Regular health checkups, especially ultrasound and blood tests, are essential.
It is the first step to early detection of bile duct cancer.

 

In conclusion

‘Bile duct cancer’ is not just an unfamiliar disease,
This is a reality that could happen to anyone around us at this very moment.

 

And remember:
Even stage 4 bile duct cancer is not the end.

 

Accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment,
Above all, the heart that never gives up
You can change your tomorrow.