Jaundice, bile duct blockage & stents in pancreatic cancer

INFORMATION & SUPPORT

Jaundice means the skin or the whites of the eyes turn yellow. In pancreatic cancer, it can happen when a tumour blocks the bile duct and bile cannot drain normally. It can also cause itching, dark urine, pale stools, and changes in appetite — and a blocked duct can lead to infection if bile cannot drain properly.

Treatment depends on the cause, your overall health, and whether surgery or other treatment is planned. A stent is one common way to help bile drain past a blockage. This guide explains what is happening, what may be offered, what to ask, and when to seek help.

Part of our Complications of pancreatic cancer guides.

On this page: Symptoms · Assessment · Stents · After a stent · Getting help · Questions to ask

When to get help urgently

What is jaundice?

Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It happens when bilirubin — a substance made when the body breaks down old red blood cells — builds up in the blood.

Bile normally travels from the liver through the bile duct into the small intestine. It helps digest fats and gives stool its normal brown colour. When that pathway is blocked, bilirubin can build up and cause jaundice.

Jaundice has many possible causes, including gallstones, liver conditions, infections, and some medicines. It does not automatically mean pancreatic cancer — but it always needs assessment to find the cause.

Why pancreatic cancer can cause jaundice

Tumours in the head of the pancreas sit close to the common bile duct. As a tumour grows, it can press on or block the duct, preventing bile from draining into the intestine. Cancer that has spread to the liver can also sometimes cause jaundice.

A blocked bile duct is a medical issue that needs assessment. It is not something to manage by waiting or self-treating at home.

Symptoms to tell your care team

Contact your care team promptly if you notice:

• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
• Dark urine.
• Pale, clay-coloured, or unusually light stools.
• Itching.
• Nausea, vomiting, or reduced appetite.
• Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen.
• Fever, chills, or feeling unusually unwell.

The Canadian Cancer Society identifies dark urine, pale stools, itching, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort as symptoms that can occur with jaundice.

How a blocked bile duct is assessed

Your team may use blood tests, imaging, and sometimes an endoscopic procedure to understand whether bile is draining properly and where a blockage may be.

Blood tests can measure bilirubin and liver enzymes. Imaging can show the bile ducts, liver, pancreas, and any possible blockage.

An ERCP — endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography — can examine the bile and pancreatic ducts and may also be used to treat a blockage. Our endoscopic procedures guide explains how ERCP works; this page stays with what it means for jaundice and drainage.

Your team will explain which tests are needed and why. Ask what each test is meant to find out.

What is a bile duct stent?

A stent is a small tube, usually made of plastic or metal, placed inside the bile duct to help keep it open. It allows bile to drain past a blockage into the small intestine.

A stent may be offered to relieve jaundice and other symptoms caused by a blockage. It may also be used before surgery in some situations, depending on the treatment plan and its timing.

Stents are commonly placed during an ERCP. In some cases, they may be placed through the skin or during another procedure.

A stent does not remove cancer. Its purpose is to restore drainage and relieve symptoms caused by the blockage — and even then, relief is something it may help with, not something that can be promised.

What to expect

Ask your team to explain:

• Why a stent is being considered.
• Whether it will be placed during an ERCP or another procedure.
• What preparation is needed.
• What sedation or anaesthesia will be used.
• How long the procedure may take.
• Whether you will stay overnight.
• Who will explain the results.
• What follow-up is planned.

Do not eat or drink before a procedure unless your team gives you specific instructions. Follow the preparation instructions you are given.

After a stent is placed

Recovery and follow-up vary. Ask for written instructions before you leave. Questions to ask:

• When can I eat and drink normally?
• What symptoms are expected afterward?
• Which symptoms mean I should call?
• Who do I contact after hours?
• When will we check whether the stent is working?
• Will I need repeat blood tests or imaging?
• How long is this stent expected to last?
• What happens if it becomes blocked?

Stents can sometimes become blocked or need to be replaced. How long a stent lasts and what follow-up it needs depend on your situation — there is no single schedule that fits everyone.

Caring for yourself afterward

Follow your team's instructions about food, activity, medicines, and follow-up appointments. It can also help to:

• Keep a record of symptoms and when they change.
• Ask whether itching, appetite, urine colour, or stool colour should improve.
• For itching, the Canadian Cancer Society suggests keeping skin cool and moist, using mild unscented soaps and lotions, and choosing clothing and bedding that do not irritate the skin — ask your team what fits your situation.
• Ask what to do about nausea or reduced appetite.
• Tell the team about any new medicines, supplements, or changes in how you are feeling.
• Ask whether nutrition support or a dietitian referral would help.

A blocked bile duct can affect digestion and comfort. Our nutrition and digestion guide and palliative care and symptom support guide may be useful next steps.

When to contact your care team

Contact the team responsible for your care promptly if:

• Jaundice is new or worsening.
• You develop fever, chills, or feel increasingly unwell.
• You have new or worsening abdominal pain.
• You cannot keep fluids down.
• You have dark urine or pale stools that are new or worsening.
• You are unsure whether a symptom is expected after a procedure.

BC Cancer notes that jaundice with cholangitis — inflammation or infection of the bile ducts — requires antibiotics and biliary drainage, usually by ERCP. That is one reason fever or chills with jaundice should never wait for a routine appointment.

Questions to ask your care team

• What is causing the jaundice or blockage?
• What do my blood tests and scans show?
• Is a stent the right option for me?
• What are the benefits and risks in my situation?
• Will the stent be placed through an ERCP or another method?
• What should I expect during recovery?
• How will we know whether it is working?
• What symptoms should I report right away?
• Who do I contact overnight or on weekends?
• Will I need another procedure or follow-up imaging?
• Could this affect my nutrition, appetite, or treatment plan?
• Would a palliative-care or symptom-support referral be helpful?

Frequently asked questions

Does jaundice always mean pancreatic cancer?

No. Jaundice has many possible causes, including gallstones, liver conditions, infections, and some medicines. It does need prompt assessment so the cause can be found — a high bilirubin result on a blood test is a reason to investigate, not a diagnosis by itself.

What is bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a substance made when the body breaks down old red blood cells. The liver normally moves it into bile, which drains into the intestine. When a bile duct is blocked, bilirubin builds up in the blood and causes the yellowing of jaundice. Blood tests can measure bilirubin and liver enzymes as part of working out what is happening.

Does a stent remove the cancer?

No. A stent holds the bile duct open so bile can drain past a blockage. Its purpose is to restore drainage and relieve symptoms caused by the blockage, such as jaundice and itching.

How long does a stent last?

It varies. Stents can sometimes become blocked or need to be cleared or replaced over time, and follow-up is arranged around your situation rather than a fixed schedule. Ask your team how they will check whether your stent is working and what happens if it blocks.

When should I seek urgent help?

Seek urgent medical care for fever or chills with jaundice, severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, confusion, difficulty breathing, or symptoms that cannot be safely managed at home. Do not wait for an online response.

Related guides

• Endoscopic procedures for pancreatic cancer — how ERCP and related procedures work.
• Imaging tests — scans that show the bile ducts, liver, and pancreas.
• Blood tests — bilirubin, liver enzymes, and what results can show.
• Nutrition and digestion with pancreatic cancer — eating and digestion when bile drainage is affected.
• Palliative care and symptom support — support with symptoms alongside cancer treatment.

Sources

• Canadian Cancer Society — Jaundice — what jaundice and bilirubin are, symptoms, assessment, and stent placement through ERCP.
• Canadian Cancer Society — Surgery for pancreatic cancer — surgical options and how a blocked bile duct factors into treatment planning.
• BC Cancer — Biliary decompression (pancreatic cancer protocol summary) — jaundice with cholangitis needs antibiotics and drainage, usually by ERCP; stenting before surgery depends on timing.
• BC Cancer — Pancreatic cancer — patient information on pancreatic cancer and its treatment in British Columbia.
• BC Cancer — Bile duct cancer — how the bile duct works and what happens when it is blocked.

This guide is general information about jaundice and bile duct blockage for people with pancreatic cancer in Canada, not medical advice. Causes, assessment, and treatment differ from person to person — discuss your situation with your care team.

Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 · Report an error