What is bile duct cancer
Bile duct cancer develops in part of the bile duct lining. Abnormal cells start to multiply. They can spread into other areas including the gallbladder or pancreas. Bile duct cancer is rare. You’re more likely to get it if you’re aged over 65.
Cancer can begin in any part of the ducts including:
- Intra-hepatic region: ducts inside the liver
- Extra-hepatic region: ducts outside the liver
Extra-hepatic bile ducts are split into two areas:
- Hilar – where the right and left ducts meet, below the liver
- Distal – the lower section of the ducts, near the bowel
Causes of bile duct cancer
Doctors don’t yet know what causes bile duct cancer, but some things can make it more likely. These include:
- Abnormal bile ducts
- Bile duct stones
- Hepatitis B or C
- Infection with a parasite called liver fluke (most common in Africa and Asia)
- Liver disease (cirrhosis)
- Long-term inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis
Symptoms of bile duct cancer
In its early stages, you may not have any symptoms. As the cancer develops, you may have
-
Jaundice (skin and whites of eyes becoming yellow)
-
Dark urine and pale stools
-
High temperature (fever)
-
Itchy skin
-
Loss of appetite
-
Pain in your abdomen
-
Unexplained weight loss
-
Extreme tiredness
Having these symptoms doesn’t mean you have bile duct cancer, but it’s best to get them checked by a doctor. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it successfully.
Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor will discuss your symptoms with you. You may be referred to hospital for further tests including:
- Biopsy – where a tiny sample of tissue is taken for analysis
- Blood tests
- Scans including ultrasound, CT and MRI
- X-rays
Radiation therapy
Treatment for Bile duct cancer will depend on the location and extent of the cancer, whether the cancer can be removed by surgery, likely side effects of treatment and your overall health. Your specialist doctor (oncologist) will discuss the treatment options with you. Possible treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.
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