Palliative therapy is treatment that is given to help control or reduce symptoms caused by advanced cancer. It is not meant to be a curative treatment. If the cancer has spread too far to be completely removed by surgery, doctors may concentrate on palliative operations, palliative radiation, and other palliative therapies. Because these cancers tend to advance quickly, doctors usually try to use palliative therapies that are less likely to affect a person's quality of life, when possible.

Biliary stent or biliary catheter: If cancer is blocking a duct that carries bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine, the doctor may insert a small tube (called a stent or catheter) into the bile duct or the gallbladder to help keep it open. This may be done as part of a cholangiography procedure such as PTC or ERCP (see the section, "How is gallbladder cancer diagnosed?") or, in some cases, surgically. A stent opens the duct to allow the bile to drain into the small intestine, while a catheter drains into a bag outside the body that can be emptied when needed. The stent or catheter may need to be replaced every 2 to 3 months to reduce the risk of jaundice or gallbladder inflammation.

Biliary bypass: In people who are healthy enough, another option to release bile from the gallbladder is to use a surgery called biliary bypass. There are several different biliary bypass operations, and the decision on which one to use is based on the location of the blockage. A choledochojejunostomy joins the common bile duct to the jejunum of the small intestine. A gastrojejunostomy joins the stomach directly to the jejunum of the small intestine. A hepaticojejunostomy joins the duct that carries bile from the liver to the jejunum of the small intestine.

Alcohol injection: To relieve pain, doctors may deaden the nerves that convey sensations of pain from the gallbladder and intestinal area to the brain by injecting these nerves with alcohol. This can be done during surgery or later under the guidance of a CT scan.

Pain medicines: Doctors can prescribe strong pain-relieving drugs if needed. Some people with cancer may hesitate to use narcotic drugs for fear of being sleepy all the time or becoming addicted to them. But many people get very effective pain relief from these medicines without serious side effects. It's very important to let your cancer care team know if you are having pain so that it can be treated effectively.

Last Medical Review: 11/02/2009
Last Revised: 11/02/2009