"During his illness, my late husband and I unfortunately had to learn that cancer medicine had reached its limits and was unable to help him - despite all the efforts of the doctors treating him. We therefore decided to set up a foundation for the benefit of cancer research so that new knowledge could be gained that would expand and improve the treatment options for cholangiocarcinoma," says Hedvig Hoenig, explaining her motives.
Bile duct cancer has been on the rise in recent years in connection with non-viral hepatitis, which is caused by fatty liver, a chronic liver disease. To date, the majority of patients die within five years of diagnosis. The therapies currently available can only give patients time, but cannot cure the disease.