Bile duct cancer: How your lifestyle choices affect the health of your bile ducts and put you at risk for developing cancer cells.
Diagnosis of biliary tract cancer (also known as bile duct cancer or bile duct cancer) bile duct cancer It can be devastating. Intrahepatic bile duct cancer occurs within the bile ducts of the liver, while extrahepatic bile duct cancer occurs outside the liver. Lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on your risk of developing bile duct cancer. Additionally, chronic inflammation of the bile ducts, often caused by lifestyle-related factors or underlying disease, can increase the risk of developing cancer. Regular medical checkups and screenings also play an important role in early detection and treatment of potential problems.
in an exclusive exchange with TheHealthSite.com, Dr. Manoj Sahu, Senior Consultant – Gastroenterologist, Hepatoscopist, Interventional Endoscopist, Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar; shares some insights into how lifestyle can affect the health of your bile ducts and put you at risk for developing cancer.
Bile duct cancer is a rare disease
Cholangiocarcinoma may be a rare disease, but taking care of your lifestyle can contribute to your inner health and reduce your chances of developing this disease. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common test for diagnosing bile duct cancer. This is done while the patient is asleep and uses a combination of endoscopy and fluoroscopy to identify the cancer. Cholangioscopy is another technique that can help find cancer and take tissue samples for testing. Healthy lifestyle changes to avoid illness include:
- Avoid drinking alcohol as it can cause other health problems and make bile duct cancer difficult to treat later on.
- If you are already addicted to cigarettes, remember that cigarettes can cause many health problems in the future. Bile duct cancer is one of them.
- Maintain a healthy diet that is low in processed foods and saturated fats and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. A proper diet is necessary to reduce the risk of bile duct cancer.
- Maintaining your weight is also an important lifestyle change. Obesity is a significant risk factor, as excess body fat can promote cancer development through metabolic changes and weakened immunity.
- Self-diagnosis or treatment is not recommended, so you should have regular health checkups to identify symptoms and report them promptly.
Although some symptoms, such as unexpected fatigue or a persistent fever, are less worrying, it's important to be aware of underlying illnesses such as cancer. Early detection is the key to effective treatment as it allows patients to receive appropriate treatment and progress toward recovery.
