Are These Symptoms Of Bile Duct Cancer?

Hi,

Recently, my mum was admitted to hospital after discovering her skin and eyes turn slight yellow (jaundice). CT scan was done and from the scan,it was shown that there is an outgrowth somewhere in the bile duct. The doctor suspected a high chance of tumour instead of a gallstone (which might also cause jaundice).

The doctor suggested another MRI scan to determine if it is a tumour or gallstone. She has not gone for the test yet; but all my family members are very worried about her condition.

 Her current condition:

Jaundice, restless, no vomitting, no fever, little itching.

Any chance that this is just a case of Benign tumour rather than some cancerous one?

Sorry, but I have 1 more question: 

From what I have found from the websites, many said that though Whipple procedures have high chances of success rate, but the survival rate of the patient for 5 years is only 30-40%. Does anyone know why is the survival rate so low? Is it due to recurrence or complication of the surgery? The doctor did not really want to answer any of the questions up to this point of time because he wants to make sure of her conditions first.

 Thank you very much.

On 4/30/2007 Needadvice wrote:

Hi,

Recently, my mum was admitted to hospital after discovering her skin and eyes turn slight yellow (jaundice). CT scan was done and from the scan,it was shown that there is an outgrowth somewhere in the bile duct. The doctor suspected a high chance of tumour instead of a gallstone (which might also cause jaundice).

The doctor suggested another MRI scan to determine if it is a tumour or gallstone. She has not gone for the test yet; but all my family members are very worried about her condition.

 Her current condition:

Jaundice, restless, no vomitting, no fever, little itching.

Any chance that this is just a case of Benign tumour rather than some cancerous one?

Sorry, but I have 1 more question: 

From what I have found from the websites, many said that though Whipple procedures have high chances of success rate, but the survival rate of the patient for 5 years is only 30-40%. Does anyone know why is the survival rate so low? Is it due to recurrence or complication of the surgery? The doctor did not really want to answer any of the questions up to this point of time because he wants to make sure of her conditions first.

 Thank you very much.

 

 

 

They could be due to cancer in biliary tract but also due to gallstones.

Survival even after Whipple procedure is limited due to cancer recurrences.