Your doctor may recommend certain tests to determine the extent of your bile duct cancer. This information will help your doctor determine if surgery is the right option. Your doctor may also recommend chemotherapy in addition to surgery to control symptoms. Surgery may be the best option in some cases, but treatment will depend on your individual circumstances. Bile duct cancer symptoms may vary depending on the type and size of your tumor. Getting a second opinion will give you a better idea of your treatment options.
Chronic inflammation of the bile ducts may also increase your risk of developing bile duct cancer. The inflammation may be caused by choledochal cyst disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, or scarring in the ducts. Although bile duct cancer is rare, it is often associated with other diseases, including chronic liver disease and diabetes. It’s important to seek a doctor’s diagnosis for bile duct cancer as early as possible.
During your physical examination, your doctor may notice signs of bile duct cancer, such as tenderness in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen and the right side of the ribcage. Additionally, about a quarter of patients with bile duct cancer will have an enlarged liver. During a physical exam, your doctor may also detect elevated bilirubin levels in your blood. Those levels can be felt on your abdomen and on the white portion of your tongue. Your doctor may also perform blood tests to evaluate liver function, including measuring the levels of BUN and creatinine.
Another symptom of bile duct cancer is jaundice. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. In some cases, the whites of your eyes may become orange or brown. If you’re not accustomed to experiencing jaundice, you may not know what to look for. You may also have pain below your ribcage and loss of appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
