Symptoms of gallbladder or bile duct cancer depend entirely upon the location of the tumor. Jaundice (a condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow, urine darkens, and the color of stool becomes lighter than normal) or itchy skin are often the first symptoms of bile duct cancer. Other symptoms may include malaise or a general feeling of poor health, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, fatigue, bloating, swelling of the legs, or a general feeling of weakness.
Gallbladder cancer has few symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Oftentimes, symptoms that develop are related to gallstones rather than the cancer. Symptoms of bile duct cancer vary depending upon the location of the tumor. Extrahepatic bile duct cancers (those outside the liver) often go undetected until the person becomes jaundiced. Becoming jaundiced is an indicator that the liver is not working properly or that the bile duct is blocked.
