The bile duct carries bile from the liver and the gall bladder to the small intestine where it helps with digestion of food. Bile duct cancer is usually asymptomatic; symptoms do not occur until the bile duct becomes blocked due to the tumor. In some cases, according to the American Cancer Society, the symptoms of bile duct cancer may alert a physician to the presence of the disease early. These symptoms may also be present in diseases that are not bile duct cancer so the physician needs to evaluate the patient to determine the cause.
Jaundice
According to the American Cancer Society, jaundice is the most common symptom of bile duct cancer. The condition jaundice occurs when the liver cannot get rid of the bile and the bilirubin from the bile collect in the blood. The patient's organs--including the whites of the eyes and the skin--develop a greenish yellow color. In most cases, jaundice is not a result of cancer but a doctor should evaluate the situation.
Itching
The extra bilirubin in the system causes itching of the skin, as noted by the American Cancer Society. This itching is called pruritis.
Abdominal Pain
Early bile duct cancer does not cause pain; however, the patient may feel discomfort or bloating in the belly. Advanced disease can cause abdominal pain especially under the ribs on the right side, according to the American Cancer Society. As the cancer spreads, there may also be more intense pain.
Weight Loss
Another symptom of bile duct cancer is weight loss. According to the American Cancer Society, a patient with bile duct cancer may lose his appetite and unintentionally lose weight.
Changes in Stool and Urine
The stool and the urine may change colors in patients with bile duct cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Bilirubin causes the stool to be a dark brown color. When the bilirubin cannot get into the intestine because the bile duct is blocked, the stool becomes a light color or even white. When the bilirubin gets into the bloodstream, the urine that is produced can become dark.
