Bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)

Symptoms of bile duct cancer

Bile duct cancer may not cause symptoms in the early stages. If you have any of the symptoms, it’s important to see your GP. Remember that there are other conditions that can cause these symptoms.

What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer?

If you do have symptoms of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), they can include:

yellowing of the skin and the white of your eyes - this is called jaundice
changes to the colour of your poo and pee
itchy skin
a high temperature - also called a fever
pain in the tummy (abdomen)
weight loss

There are many other conditions that cause these symptoms. Most of them are much more common than bile duct cancer.

See your GP if you have any of these symptoms. Although your symptoms are unlikely to be bile duct cancer, it is important to get them checked by a doctor.

The symptoms of bile duct cancer depend on where the cancer is in the bile ducts.

The perihilar and distal bile ducts are outside the liver. Cancer that starts in these ducts, or that blocks the drainage of bile from the liver, can cause jaundice.

The intrahepatic bile ducts are inside the liver. Cancers that start here might make you feel generally unwell. But they often don’t cause any specific symptoms until they are more advanced. When they do cause symptoms they can include:

weight loss
tummy pain

Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

If cancer blocks the bile ducts it can stop bile flowing into the bowel. The bile goes into your bloodstream and tissues instead. This makes your skin and the white of your eyes turn yellow. The yellow colour is caused by the pigments in the bile.

Jaundice can also give you:

light coloured poo
dark coloured pee
itchy skin
a fever - this can be a sign of inflammation or an infection and may make you feel cold and shivery

Weight loss

Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of bile duct cancer.

Doctors define unintentional weight loss as losing between 5% and 10% of your body weight for no obvious reason. This is the same as losing half to 1 stone for every 10 stones that you weigh. Or 3 to 6kg for every 60kg that you weigh.

See your doctor if you are losing weight and you don’t know why.

Pain in your abdomen

Pain in the abdomen is a common symptom of bile duct cancer. The pain is usually on your right hand side, just below your ribs.

It's important to remember that this type of pain can be caused by other less serious conditions, such as gallstones.

Last reviewed: 06 Jun 2024

Next review due: 06 Jun 2027

What is bile duct cancer?

Bile duct cancer is when abnormal cells in the bile ducts divide in an uncontrolled way. It is also called cholangiocarcinoma.

Types of bile duct cancer

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.

Risks and causes of bile duct cancer

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

Seeing your GP about symptoms of bile duct cancer

Your GP will ask about your symptoms. They might send you for some tests and scans and arrange for you to see a specialist.

Referral to a bile duct cancer specialist

You may be referred to a specialist if you have symptoms that could be due to bile duct cancer. This might be an urgent suspected cancer referral.

Bile duct cancer main page

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.