How common is jaundice in bile duct cancer?

Bile duct cancer may narrow or block the channels that carry bile from the liver. Bile then builds up in the bloodstream, causing yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. Dark urine, pale stools, itching, reduced appetite, nausea, or discomfort beneath the ribs can occur as well. Jaundice has many other causes, including gallstones, liver inflammation, medicines, and infections, so its presence does not by itself establish cancer.

New yellowing of the eyes or skin should be assessed promptly, particularly when urine becomes dark or stools become unusually pale. A clinician may examine you and arrange blood tests for liver function and imaging to look at the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice, and tell the clinician about alcohol use, supplements, recent illness, and any abdominal pain or fever.

Seek urgent medical help if jaundice is accompanied by fever, shaking chills, severe or increasing upper-abdominal pain, confusion, vomiting, or marked drowsiness. A blocked bile duct can become infected, and rapid treatment may be needed. Worsening yellowing, inability to keep fluids down, or very little urine also warrants urgent assessment.

What might be causing my jaundice? Which blood tests and scans do I need? Is there evidence of bile duct blockage or infection? How should itching, nausea, or poor appetite be managed while the cause is investigated?