Unexpected bump and pain
While she noticed the bump for a few months, Towle didn’t visit the doctor immediately because she was “young and healthy,” she recalls. But when she started experiencing pain, she realized she needed to seek medical care.
“When I was going on walks, I started feeling a burning sensation in my stomach,” she says.
After the ultrasound showed a mass, Towle underwent an MRI.
“(It) showed that it was cancerous,” she says. “I had to go to the hospital to get a biopsy, which determines the type of cancer that I had.”
The biopsy revealed she had bile duct cancer, and doctors considered how to proceed with her care. At the time, it had not spread to other locations in her body.
Bile duct cancer
Bile duct cancer is rare and comes with few symptoms, which means many people are diagnosed at later stages.
“Sadly, we do often find these in stages where they’re not surgically manageable,” Dr. Antony Ruggeri, a medical oncologist at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, who did not treat Towle, previously told TODAY.com.
According to the American Cancer Society, symptoms can include:
- Jaundice or yellowing of the skin
- Pain the upper right quadrant of the abdomen
- Itchiness
- Greasy or pale stool
- Unintentional weight loss or lessened appetite
- Dark-colored urine
- Fever
People at higher risk include:
- Those with certain liver or bile duct conditions, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis B or C
- Older populations
- Those with inflammatory bowel disease
- Those with diabetes
Facing cancer again
Towle cannot receive chemotherapy again because her white blood cell count is too low from her previous treatment and the cancer growing back. She currently has cancer on her liver, and it has spread to one abdominal lymph node. She was told her options were surgery or joining a clinical trial.
“I don’t think I’ve processed it,” she says. “I’ve kind of disassociated from it.”
After recently moving to New York City for work, Towle is seeing a new medical team, who will conduct their own scans and take a biopsy of her cancer growth to understand it and come up with a new treatment plan.
Conclusion
Towle’s story highlights the importance of seeking medical care when something seems wrong. Her experience also emphasizes the need for further research and awareness about rare cancers like bile duct cancer.
FAQs
Q: What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer?
A: Symptoms of bile duct cancer can include jaundice or yellowing of the skin, pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, itchiness, greasy or pale stool, unintentional weight loss or lessened appetite, dark-colored urine, and fever.
Q: Who is at higher risk for bile duct cancer?
A: People at higher risk for bile duct cancer include those with certain liver or bile duct conditions, older populations, those with inflammatory bowel disease, and those with diabetes.
Q: What are the treatment options for bile duct cancer?
A: Treatment options for bile duct cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The best course of treatment will depend on the individual case and the stage of the cancer.
Q: Can bile duct cancer be cured?
A: While bile duct cancer can be treated, it is often a challenging and complex disease to treat. The prognosis and treatment options will depend on the individual case and the stage of the cancer.
