Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)

Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) starts in the bile ducts. Bile ducts carry bile from your liver to your gallbladder. The gallbladder releases bile and it flows to the small bowel to break down fat in the food you eat.

Factors that increase the risk of developing bile duct cancer include getting older and conditions that cause long term inflammation of the bile ducts.

Bile duct cancer symptoms may include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, dark urine and pale poo, high temperature and pain in your tummy (abdomen).

The stage and grade of bile duct cancer help your doctor decide your treatment. They might use the number or TNM system, and the Bismuth-Corlette classification.

There are 3 main types of bile duct cancer. Intrahepatic bile duct cancer starts in the liver. Perihilar and distal bile duct cancers start in the bile ducts outside the liver.

If you have symptoms of bile duct cancer you should see your GP. They might ask you to have some tests and refer you to a specialist.

Treatments for bile duct cancers include surgery, chemotherapy and treatments to control symptoms. The treatments you have depend on the stage of the cancer.

Survival for bile duct cancer depends on many factors including whether the cancer is in the bile ducts in the liver, or outside the liver.

Advanced bile duct cancer has spread outside the bile ducts into nearby lymph nodes or organs. Or it has spread to parts of the body further away from the bile ducts.

Researchers in the UK are currently looking for new ways to prevent and diagnose bile duct cancer. They are also looking at new treatments.

You may need help and support to cope when you have bile duct cancer. There are people, resources and organisations who can help you and your family.