Doctor explains why symptoms of bile duct cancer are 'difficult to spot' after Sydney Towle dies aged 26
A doctor has broken down the symptoms of bile duct cancer following the untimely passing of 26-year-old content creator Sydney Towle.
Towle sadly died on August 5, her family announced in a heartbreaking statement yesterday. She'd been battling cancer for three years.
Her loved ones described her as 'a daughter, sister, and friend to so many', as well as an 'endless ray of sunshine'.
Bile duct cancer (also known as cholangiocarcinoma) is apparently very rare in young people and, while it can impact someone at any age, it's more prevalent among individuals aged 65 and above, says Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy.
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The healthcare expert added: "It is also considered a rare cancer overall, with around 3,100 people diagnosed in the UK each year.
"Although younger people can develop bile duct cancer, the risk increases with age, so a diagnosis in a younger adult is relatively unusual, but not impossible."
Dr Grant went on to explain that some of the symptoms of bile duct cancer are 'difficult to spot' because they're 'vague' and 'can be caused by many other, much more common conditions'.
"However, changes to look out for include yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice), as well as darker urine, paler stools, and persistent itching," Dr Grant went on.
"Other possible symptoms include unexplained weight loss, a loss of appetite, pain or discomfort in the abdomen, feeling unusually tired or generally unwell, and sometimes a high temperature."
Things that shouldn't be ignored are 'persistent or unexplained changes'.
The doctor continued: "Anyone experiencing these symptoms, particularly jaundice or a combination of several changes, should speak to their GP so the underlying cause can be properly investigated."
Like bile duct cancer, breast cancer is another illness that can impact anyone at any age.
UNILAD have recently started a new column called Gen C to highlight this, where 29-year-old Courtney shared her story of being diagnosed with cancer.
One of most important things Courtney shared was that young people's health concerns should be taken seriously.
"I think younger people deserve to feel heard when something feels wrong in their body, even if statistically they’re considered 'low risk'," she told UNILAD.
"Cancer doesn’t wait for your birthday to manifest, and I think symptoms should be taken seriously regardless of age."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Niamh Shackleton