Bile duct cancer

Bile duct cancer is when abnormal cells in the bile ducts start to divide in an uncontrolled way. The cells can spread into surrounding healthy tissues or organs. They may also spread to parts of the body away from the bile ducts. 

The symptoms of bile duct cancer depend on where in the bile ducts the cancer is. It may not cause any symptoms in the early stages. If you do have symptoms, they can include yellowing of the skin and the white of your eyes. This is called jaundice. You may also get tummy pain and weight loss.

Some people are diagnosed with bile duct cancer after they become unwell and go to A&E. Others start by seeing their GP. Your GP might refer you for tests and to see a specialist. 

Survival for bile duct cancer depends on where in the bile ducts the cancer is. It also depends on the stage of the cancer when it was diagnosed. This means how big it is and whether it has spread. 

The type of treatment you have depends on the stage of your cancer and your general health. The main treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and treatment to help reduce your symptoms. 

There are 3 main types of bile duct cancer depending where in the bile ducts the cancer starts. These are intrahepatic bile duct cancer, perihilar bile duct cancer and distal bile duct cancer.

The stage and grade of bile duct cancer helps your doctor decide the treatment you need. For bile duct cancer, doctors might use the number staging system, the TNM system or the Bismuth-Corlette staging system. 

Current research is looking at ways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of bile duct cancer. Clinical trials are open in the UK for people diagnosed with bile duct cancer.

Advice and support are available to help you cope with bile duct cancer and its treatment.

Advanced bile duct cancer is cancer that has spread outside the bile ducts into lymph nodes or organs near the bile duct. Or that has spread to another part of the body such as the lungs (secondary or metastatic bile duct cancer). 

Factors that increase the risk of developing bile duct cancer include getting older and long term (chronic) inflammation of the bile ducts.