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Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The two toilet symptoms of often-missed cancer surging in under-65s – plus 8 other ‘vague' signs
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO toilet related symptoms could be the first signs of a hard-to-spot cancer that's on the rise in the UK. Bile duct cancer - which doctors call cholangiocarcinoma - affects the network of small tubes that connect the liver, gallbladder and small intestine. 2 Some symptoms of bile duct cancer may become apparent on the loo Credit: Getty According to Cancer Research UK, around 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with bile duct cancer each year. Meanwhile, researchers from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and University College London (UCL) said 5,000 to 6,000 people are diagnosed with the cancer every year - but estimated that true figure could be even higher. According to data from Cancer Research UK, up to 70 per cent of patients with the disease will die within just 12 months. This is partially due to the fact bile duct cancer is notoriously tricky to spot. In its early stages it may cause no symptoms at all, or only vague ones like feeling sick or loss of appetite. Liver Cancer UK pinpointed two key symptoms of bile duct cancer that may appear when you're on the loo. The first of these is unusually dark wee. When you're properly hydrated, your pee should be a pale straw colour. But cancer in the bile ducts can block the flow of bile between the liver and the bowel, causing the bile to flow back into the blood and body tissues and tingeing urine a dark yellow. Another symptom people with bile duct cancer might spot on the loo is pale, putty coloured poo. Symptoms, treatment and latest research on anal cancer This may also be difficult to flush. Both these symptoms are potential signs of jaundice, which can also cause additional symptoms such as: Yellowing of the skin and eyes Itching Flu-like symptoms such as muscle aching, fever and tiredness Other symptoms include: Losing weight without meaning to Tummy pain that spreads to your back All these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but it's still important to see your GP to find out what's causing them. 2 The number of people getting bile duct cancer has certainly increased in the last few years. Researchers don't know for sure what's causing the number to increase. Some studies suggest it might be related to factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol, according to Cancer Research UK. Meanwhile, Liver Cancer UK stated: "It's a myth that liver cancers are always related to alcohol. "In fact, it's unclear whether alcohol is linked to bile duct cancer. "Most people who get bile duct cancer are older, between 50 and 70. "Some other liver or gallbladder conditions increase risk because they irritate the bile ducts. "People with these may get bile duct cancer when they're younger than that." Having other kinds of liver disease, such as cirrhosis or a long-term hepatitis infection may also increase the risk of bile duct cancer, as can being overweight or diabetic. Game of Thrones actor Ian Gelder passed away at the age of 74 in 2024, after a five-month battle with the disease. Helen Morement, from the UK's only Cholangiocarcinoma Charity, AMMF, previously said that more awareness of this cancer and the diversity of people – and ages – at risk of developing it is urgently needed. 'Cholangiocarcinoma is no longer rare in many parts of the UK and cases in adults under the age of 65 are much more common than previously though," she said. 'People often don't act on symptoms immediately, or are misdiagnosed with other conditions when they do, because they don't fit the profile of what many assume a 'liver cancer patient' should look like. "But unlike the other more well-known type of primary liver cancer – Hepatocellular carcinoma - there isn't an established link to liver cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, alcohol or other lifestyle factors. "The cause of rising cases in otherwise healthy adults is not known." In January this year, patients with bile duct cancer were offered new hope for treating the aggressive disease. A study - which showed promising early results - matched patients' tumours to one or more of seven key medicines to drive the disease back. Some people on the drugs saw their cancer go into remission, while others with previously inoperable cancer became suitable for surgery. Doctors said the study will lead to a set of new standards for treating the disease, which currently kills the majority of patients in around a year.


The Sun
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The two toilet symptoms of often-missed cancer surging in under-65s – plus 8 other ‘vague' signs
TWO toilet related symptoms could be the first signs of a hard-to-spot cancer that's on the rise in the UK. Bile duct cancer - which doctors call cholangiocarcinoma - affects the network of small tubes that connect the liver, gallbladder and small intestine. According to Cancer Research UK, around 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with bile duct cancer each year. Meanwhile, researchers from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and University College London (UCL) said 5,000 to 6,000 people are diagnosed with the cancer every year - but estimated that true figure could be even higher. According to data from Cancer Research UK, up to 70 per cent of patients with the disease will die within just 12 months. This is partially due to the fact bile duct cancer is notoriously tricky to spot. In its early stages it may cause no symptoms at all, or only vague ones like feeling sick or loss of appetite. Liver Cancer UK pinpointed two key symptoms of bile duct cancer that may appear when you're on the loo. The first of these is unusually dark wee. When you're properly hydrated, your pee should be a pale straw colour. But cancer in the bile ducts can block the flow of bile between the liver and the bowel, causing the bile to flow back into the blood and body tissues and tingeing urine a dark yellow. Another symptom people with bile duct cancer might spot on the loo is pale, putty coloured poo. Symptoms, treatment and latest research on anal cancer This may also be difficult to flush. Both these symptoms are potential signs of jaundice, which can also cause additional symptoms such as: Yellowing of the skin and eyes Itching Flu-like symptoms such as muscle aching, fever and tiredness Other symptoms include: Losing weight without meaning to Tummy pain that spreads to your back All these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but it's still important to see your GP to find out what's causing them. 2 The number of people getting bile duct cancer has certainly increased in the last few years. Researchers don't know for sure what's causing the number to increase. Some studies suggest it might be related to factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol, according to Cancer Research UK. Meanwhile, Liver Cancer UK stated: "It's a myth that liver cancers are always related to alcohol. "In fact, it's unclear whether alcohol is linked to bile duct cancer. "Most people who get bile duct cancer are older, between 50 and 70. "Some other liver or gallbladder conditions increase risk because they irritate the bile ducts. "People with these may get bile duct cancer when they're younger than that." Having other kinds of liver disease, such as cirrhosis or a long-term hepatitis infection may also increase the risk of bile duct cancer, as can being overweight or diabetic. Game of Thrones actor Ian Gelder passed away at the age of 74 in 2024, after a five-month battle with the disease. Helen Morement, from the UK's only Cholangiocarcinoma Charity, AMMF, previously said that more awareness of this cancer and the diversity of people – and ages – at risk of developing it is urgently needed. 'Cholangiocarcinoma is no longer rare in many parts of the UK and cases in adults under the age of 65 are much more common than previously though," she said. 'People often don't act on symptoms immediately, or are misdiagnosed with other conditions when they do, because they don't fit the profile of what many assume a 'liver cancer patient' should look like. "But unlike the other more well-known type of primary liver cancer – Hepatocellular carcinoma - there isn't an established link to liver cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, alcohol or other lifestyle factors. "The cause of rising cases in otherwise healthy adults is not known." In January this year, patients with bile duct cancer were offered new hope for treating the aggressive disease. A study - which showed promising early results - matched patients' tumours to one or more of seven key medicines to drive the disease back. Some people on the drugs saw their cancer go into remission, while others with previously inoperable cancer became suitable for surgery. Doctors said the study will lead to a set of new standards for treating the disease, which currently kills the majority of patients in around a year. Who's at risk of bile duct cancer? Anyone can develop bile duct cancer, but some people are at higher risk. This includes: Older adults: Bile duct cancer is more common in people over 65 Chronic liver disease patients: Conditions like cirrhosis or hepatitis B and C increase the risk People with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): This is a rare liver disease that affects the bile ducts Smokers: Smoking is linked to a higher risk of bile duct cancer Those with a history of bile duct stones: Long-term inflammation from bile duct stones can raise the risk Family history: A family history of bile duct cancer or other cancers can increase your risk Those with diabetes: People with diabetes (type 1 or type 2) have been found to have a higher risk of bile duct cancer. Alcohol: People who drink alcohol are more likely to get intrahepatic bile duct cancer. The risk is higher in those who have liver problems from drinking alcohol Having a risk factor, or even many risk factors, does not mean that a person will get the disease. And many people who get the disease have few or no known risk factors Source: American Cancer Society


Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors pinpoint two 'vague' toilet symptoms that are a warning sign of liver cancer - cases in under 50s have surged by 86 per cent since the 90s
Two critical changes in your toilet habits could be a sign of a deadly cancer that is on the rise in Britian. Bile duct cancer, medically known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a cancer that grows in tubes connecting the liver, gallbladder and the intestine. The aggressive disease strikes about 3,100 people in the UK each year, with only one in 20 patients expected to be alive five years after their diagnosis. Charity, Liver Cancer UK, states some of the warning signs of bile duct cancer are only detectable when people go to the toilet. These include unusually dark or pale urine and pale 'putty-like' stool. Both are potential signs of jaundice, a condition indicating the liver is under serious stress. In cases of bile-duct cancer, it can be a sign the disease has blocked the tubes connecting to the liver, causing the bile to leak into blood and other tissue. Other signs of jaundice include a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes and itchy skin. Additional potential signs of bile duct cancer include unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain — most often in the right-hand side of the stomach — flu-like symptoms like fever and fatigue as well as a loss of appetite. While the Liver Cancer UK said these can be symptoms of other conditions, they urged people experiencing them to contact their GP for advice. This is because, if it is cancer-related, an earlier diagnosis can vastly improve treatment options and outcomes. Scientists are unsure what exactly causes bile-duct cancer to form in some people as opposed to others. However, Liver Cancer UK said it's not always related to drinking alcohol. 'It's a myth that liver cancers are always related to alcohol. In fact, it's unclear whether alcohol is linked to bile duct cancer,' the charity states. As is the case for many forms of cancer, age is the biggest risk factor for the disease, with the vast majority of cases among patients between the ages of 50 and 70. However, some health conditions, like infection with parasites called liver flukes and some forms of inflammatory bowel disease are known to increase the risk of bile duct cancer. People with conditions like these are at increased risk of developing the disease at a younger age. Charity, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), has observed a rise in bile duct cancer diagnoses in recent years. The reason for the increase is unclear, however some experts have suggested a rise in lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking alcohol could be playing a part. Bile duct cancer is divided into two main types, intrahepatic and extrahepatic. Intrahepatic bile duct cancers are those that form inside bile-ducts in the liver, while extrahepatic cancers are those that form in bile ducts outside of the organ. The former is considered a type of liver cancer, and accounts for the majority of bile duct cancers diagnosed in the UK. CRUK data shows overall cases of liver cancer are on the rise among younger adults, medically defined in cancer care as those diagnosed under the age of 50. Rates of the disease have increased by 86 per cent among 25-to-49-year-olds since the 90s. However, the overwhelming majority of cases are still in older adults with people over the age of 80 having the highest risk. Liver cancer is estimated to have killed more than 81,000 people in the last 20 years, with deaths projected to rise a further 10 per cent by 2040, according to CRUK. The disease is currently the eighth most common cause of cancer death in the UK, but by 2040, the charity warns that it could rank sixth. Around one in four liver cancer cases in the UK are caused by obesity, while a fifth are related to smoking, and one in 14 are due to excessive alcohol, research shows. Treatment for bile duct cancer usually consists of surgery to remove as much of the disease as possible followed by treatments like chemotherapy.