Cancer of the bile duct does not usually cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage and is blocking the flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine. The blockage will cause bile to move back into the blood and body tissue, resulting in symptoms such as:
- jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- clay-coloured stools (faeces)
- dark coloured urine
- itchy skin
- weight loss
- abdominal pain – most people feel a dull ache in the upper right hand side of their abdomen (tummy)
- high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above
- chills
- night sweats
When to seek medical advice
Always visit your GP if you have jaundice. While jaundice is unlikely to be caused by bile duct cancer, it could indicate that there is an underlying problem with the liver, such as hepatitis.
