The cause of bile duct cancer remains elusive. However, patients with chronic inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis or parasitic infections of the bile ducts appear to be at higher risk than the general population is. So are those with congenital abnormalities of the bile ducts.
Bile, which helps the body digest fats, is manufactured in the liver. Bile ducts run through the liver, collecting bile, then travel to the gall bladder, which stores bile. As your body needs bile, the gall bladder releases it into the small intestine through another duct connecting the two organs.
Bill duct cancers are known as cholangiocarcinomas. They’re considered rare and affect just 16,000 patients in the United States every year. If the tumors cannot be surgically removed, doctors seek to relieve the symptoms experienced by the accumulation of bile and to minimize pain.
According to the American Cancer Society, when sufferers from bile duct cancer experience symptoms, they’re typically caused by blockage of the bile duct. Here are the most common ones:
Jaundice: It ranks as the most prevalent symptom of this type of cancer. Because the liver is unable to get rid of bile, the chemical bilirubin backs up into the bloodstream. This bile chemical has a greenish-yellow color and is visible in body tissues such as the skin and the whites of the eyes, which take on the same hue. The American Cancer Society points out, however, that most causes of jaundice are associated with hepatitis, not cancer.
Itching: Extra amounts of bilirubin can make their way to the skin and cause itching. Most people who suffer from bile duct cancer report itching.
Abdominal pain: Patients with early-stage disease typically don’t report pain. However, more advanced cases can lead to abdominal pain, typically on the right side, below the ribs.
Loss of appetite and weight loss: These symptoms go hand in hand. Patients with bile duct cancer might experience a lack of hunger and unintentionally lose weight as a result.
Fever: This is not uncommon among patients with this type of malignancy.
Light-colored stools or dark urine: When bilirubin is blocked, the brown color of bowel movements can disappear. If the chemical is passed through urinary tract, it might turn a patient’s urine dark.
Nausea and vomiting: Although an uncommon symptom, it occurs among patients who develop an infection of the gallbladder as a result of bile duct blockage. It’s often accompanied by a fever.
The American Cancer Society stresses that these symptoms can be caused by a number of non-malignant conditions such as hepatitis or the presence of gallstones. So before second guessing the cause of any of these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor.
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