Alternative Bile Duct Cancer Treatments

Bile duct cancer is cancer that starts in the bile duct, which is a thin tube that runs from the liver to the small intestine. The function of the bile duct is to transport bile from the liver to the gall bladder, where it digests the fats in foods. Cancers can develop in any part of the bile duct; more than 95% of them are adenocarcinomas; cancers of the glandular cells that can develop in several organs of the body).

Traditional Treatments for Bile Duct Cancer

• Traditional medical treatments for bile duct cancer vary according to the type of bile duct cancer, the extent of the cancer, the age of the patient and the overall general health of the patient. Treatments can include surgical removal of part of the bile duct, liver transplantation, chemotherapy, radiation, biliary drainage (stents placed in the bile duct to relieve discomfort) and photodynamic therapy (chemical/laser therapy).

Alternative Treatments for Bile Duct Cancer

• In addition to traditional medical treatments for bile duct cancer, several alternative treatments exist. Gerson therapy is used to treat a variety of cancers, but it is considered especially helpful for liver and bile duct cancers because its main objective is to eliminate toxins in the body, and toxins are processed in the liver. According to Dr. Gerson, there are changes in cell metabolism because of the buildup of toxic substances in the body. Disease makes more bodily toxins, which means the liver is overworked. The objective of Gerson therapy is to restore the body to health by repairing the liver, which is done by removing toxins from the body and building up the immune system with diet and supplements. Enemas are also used frequently to widen the bile ducts so that more toxins can be released. The Gerson therapy requires followers to take a variety of minerals and vitamins, to drink several glasses of juice a day, to eat organic vegetarian meals, and eliminate salt and food preparations in aluminum.

  Other alternative nutrition treatments for bile duct cancer include supplements of beta carotene, selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E. In addition to nutritive supplements, acupuncture can be used to treat bile duct cancer.