Guide To Treating Bile Duct Cancer

Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare form of cancer that affects the narrow tubes which carry bile (a digestive fluid) through the liver. This form of cancer most often occurs in individuals aged sixty-five or older, and there are fewer than 20,000 cases diagnosed annually in the United States. Symptoms of bile duct cancer include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), stomach pain, unintended weight loss, intense skin itching, white-colored stools, fever, fatigue, and vomiting. Obesity, liver disease, smoking, bile duct inflammation, and a family history of the disease are the major risk factors for this type of cancer. Cancer can also be caused by infection from the liver fluke, a parasite that lives in waters throughout Asia and the Middle East. Bile duct cancer can be diagnosed following a thorough history and physical examination, blood tests, biopsies, and imaging studies.