Bile Duct Cancer Treatment

What is Bile Duct Cancer?

The bile ducts are tubes that carry bile. The main function of bile is to break down fats in food to help our digestion. Bile is made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. The bile ducts connect the liver and gall bladder to the small bowel. When people have had their gall bladder removed, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine.

Type of Bile Duct Cancer

• Intrahepatic bile duct cancers
• Perihilar (also called hilar) bile duct cancers
• Distal bile duct cancers

Symptoms of bile duct cancer

• Itching
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Abdominal pain (Early bile duct cancer usually does not cause pain, but a person may experience pain if the cancer has spread.)