Bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
Survival depends on different factors. So no one can tell you exactly how long you will live.
Doctors usually work out the outlook for a certain disease by looking at large groups of people. Because this cancer is less common, survival is harder to estimate than for other, more common cancers.
Some of the statistics have to be based on a small number of people. Remember, they can't tell you what will happen in your individual case.
Your doctor can give you more information about your own outlook ().
The terms 1 year survival and 5 year survival don't mean that you will only live for 1 or 5 years.
The NHS, other health organisations, and researchers collect information. They record what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.
5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis.
There are no UK wide statistics available for bile duct cancer survival by stage.
The statistics below come from America. They come from the National Cancer Institute's SEER programme. They are for people diagnosed with bile duct cancer between 2012 and 2018. Please be aware that these figures might not be a true picture of survival in the UK. This is due to differences in American health care systems, data collection and the population.
The American statistics are split into 3 stage groups – localised, regional and distant cancers. In the UK, your doctor might not use these terms. Instead, they might describe your cancer as a number stage (stage 1 to 4).
The following descriptions are a guide to help you understand whether your cancer is localised, regional or distant. This isn’t straight forward and will depend on your individual situation. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure which group you are in.
localised - usually includes stage 1 and 2 cancers that haven’t spread outside the bile duct
regional - usually includes stage 3 cancers that have spread outside the bile duct into lymph nodes or surrounding tissues
distant - stage 4 cancers that have spread to other parts of the body, away from the bile duct
Read about the stages of bile duct cancer
The statistics are also split into 2 types of bile duct cancer:
intrahepatic bile duct cancer that starts in the liver
extrahepatic bile duct cancer that starts outside the liver (perihilar and distal bile duct cancer)
There are no UK wide statistics available for bile duct cancer survival. The following statistics are provided by the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS).
Almost 30 out of 100 people (almost 30%) survived their cancer for 1 year or more after they were diagnosed.
This is for people diagnosed in England between 2017 and 2019.
5 out of 100 people (5%) survived their cancer for 5 years or more after they were diagnosed.
This is for people diagnosed in England between 2014 and 2016.
Your outlook depends on the stage of the cancer when it was diagnosed. This means how big it is and whether it has spread.
It also depends on:
which bile ducts the cancer is in
whether you can have surgery to completely remove it
Your general health and fitness also affect survival. This is because the fitter you are, the better you may be able to cope with your cancer and treatment.
Last reviewed: 20 Jun 2024
Next review due: 20 Jun 2027
Bile duct cancer is when abnormal cells in the bile ducts divide in an uncontrolled way. It is also called cholangiocarcinoma.
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.
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.
Coping with bile duct cancer can be difficult. You might find it helpful to speak about your feelings and there are people who can support you and your family.
There are organisations that offer information and support to help you cope with bile duct cancer and its treatment.
Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma. It is a rare type of cancer that develops in the small tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the small bowel.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
Meet and chat to other cancer people affected by cancer.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
