If you've searched the internet for private health insurance that covers bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) then you are most likely for looking for trusted UK based health insurance providers that will cover your bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).
Our advice when shopping around for private medical insurance that covers bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is to speak to a insurance broker. Health insurance is incredibly complicated and if you want complete certainty that bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is covered by your policy you should talk with a broker who can explain which policy providers will cover this medical condition and which will not.
There are many advantages to using a insurance broker but the largest by far is that you're using their expertise at no cost. They are paid by the insurer (Aviva or Bupa etc) rather than you so it costs you no extra to use their services.
- Do you reside in many different postcodes? Some will give you a cheaper premium than offers. A insurance broker will be able to advise whats best.
- Do you have a hobby that may invalidate your insurance claim? A broker will know this vital information.
- If you are a couple and one of you has claimed on your insurance policy this year would it be cheaper to separate you both onto two different policies?
- You've developed a certain condition and want to know which policy provider offers the biggest amount of cover for it. A broker will know this instantly saving you huge amounts of time and effort.
You can call around every health insurance provider you can find and ask if they cover bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), however this will be a very time consuming process. Each insurer will ask for your medical history because its not normally a simple yes or not if a medical condition is covered or not.
Its far far quicker to speak to one medical insurance broker which will know which providers on the market cover bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) and under what conditions they do or don't cover it.
Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) Information
Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is a rare but aggressive type of cancer.
The bile duct system, or "biliary" system, is made up of a series of tubes that begin in the liver and end in the small intestine. Bile is a fluid the digestive system uses to help break down fats and digest foods.
In most cases, there are no signs of bile duct cancer until it reaches the later stages, when symptoms can include:
See your GP if you have signs of jaundice or are worried about other symptoms. While it is unlikely you have bile duct cancer, it is best to get it checked.
Read more about the symptoms of bile duct cancer
The exact cause of bile duct cancer is unknown. However, some things may increase your chances of developing the condition. The most common include being over 65 years old or having a rare chronic liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
Read more about the causes of bile duct cancer
There are two main types of bile duct cancer, depending on where the cancer begins:
Cancer of the bile duct can be difficult to diagnose, so you may need several tests, including:
For some of these tests, you may need to be injected with a special dye that highlights your bile ducts.
You may also need a biopsy. This involves removing a small sample of tissue so it can be studied under a microscope. However, in some cases, your surgeon may prefer to remove the suspected tumour based on the results of your scans alone.
Read more about diagnosing bile duct cancer
Cancer of the bile duct can usually only be cured if cancerous cells haven't spread. If this is the case, some or all of the bile duct may be removed.
Only a small proportion of bile duct cancer cases are diagnosed early enough to be suitable for surgery. This is because symptoms usually develop at a late stage.
Despite this, treatment such as chemotherapy can relieve the symptoms of bile duct cancer and improve the quality of life of people in the advanced stages of the condition.