Symptoms

People with bile duct cancer may experience the following symptoms, usually because the tumor is blocking the bile duct. Sometimes, people with bile duct cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor.

• Jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. When the bile duct is blocked, the liver cannot excrete bile, and the bile backs up into the bloodstream. (The blockage may not be cancer; it can also be caused by a gallstone or scar tissue.) Bile contains bilirubin, which is dark yellow and can cause the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow if it is present in the bloodstream. Urine may also become a dark color, and bowel movements may become pale.
  
  
• Itching, caused by a buildup of bile salts and bilirubin in the body and deposited in the skin
  
  
• Weight loss
  
  
• Loss of appetite
  
  
• Fever
  
  
• Abdominal pain. Early bile duct cancer usually does not cause pain, but pain may occur if the cancer spreads.

Jaundice is a common symptom, and there can be many causes. Your doctor may need to do several diagnostic tests (see Diagnosis) to find the exact cause. Many diseases associated with jaundice are not serious or life threatening; bile duct cancer is one of the less common causes.