Bile Duct Cancer

Bile duct cancer information. Explanation of what is a symptom of bile duct liver cancer.

There is no common type of cancer of the bile duct. This cancer is rare in the Western world, with around 1000 people in the UK and 4000 cases in the United States per year. It is usually found in elderly patients.

Bile is stored in the gallbladder, and released only when the body needs it. Sometimes though, something goes wrong and cancer develops in the ductal region.

There is no known actual cause for getting bile duct cancer.

There does seem to be a relationship between the cancer and people who have inflammation issues with their colon (colitis) and rectum areas.


Many cancer doctors gear treatments towards being pallative, if the cancer has metastasized through the lymphnodes.

If caught early enough though, cancer statistics show that there is a reasonable expectation of 5 years life expectancy. (1)

Cancer Symptoms

• Jaundice - caused by a form of obstruction of the biliary tree (a network of ducts of various sizes that join together like a tree which branch through the liver). A liver cleanse for cancer of the bile duct may be helpful for this symptom.
• Bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, fever, increased pain in the liver area, diarrhea, anorexia, a mass below the rib cage and a swelling of the legs.

Patients who show signs of bile duct tumors are often elderly.

The average age is from 55 to 65 years old, with only minor differences in incidences between male and females.

The lifetime risk for developing intrahepatic cancer of the bile duct is approximately 1 in 132 people.

Bile Duct Cancer Stages and Treatment

• Distal Bile Duct Tumors (lower half of the bile duct)
• Klatskin's Tumors (upper half of the bile duct)(2)

Treatment is different for both types, and it also depends on the staging of the cancer:

• Localized – the cancer is confined to the area discovered and has not spread to other areas. This is also called "in situ cancer" or local cancer.

In general, surgery is possible. The type of surgery depends on the location of the cancer. A Whipple operation is often used for Distal Bile Duct Tumors. Klatskin's Tumors often require the removal of one of the liver lobes along with the tumor.


If treatment is effective, there is a 25 percent survival rate after five years.


• Unresectable - the cancer cannot be removed by surgery. Unfortunately there is a less than 1 percent chance of survival over a 2 year period.

There are some current clinical trials for cancer of the bile duct at the Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases at the University of Southern California.

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