The death of Hollywood star Karen Black is shocking news to the whole world. Black, who starred in legendary films such as Nashville and Five Easy Pieces, died in Los Angeles on August 7, 2013.

The culprit for her death is a disease known as ampullary cancer. Ampullary cancer is one of the most common types of cancer yet most people only knew about it when it was mentioned with Karen Black’s death. What is ampullary cancer? What are the symptoms? Can it be cured? Read on to find the answers to these questions.

What is ampullary cancer?
Ampullary cancer happens when a malignant tumor affects the last centimeter of the bile duct. The condition worsens when the tumor manages to pass through the duodenum wall and the ampullary papilla. When the ampulla valer is blocked by the tumor, it will lead to the obstruction of billary and pancreatic secretions which are important for the digestive functions of the body. The failure to drain bile also leads to jaundice, a condition which affects the bloodstream and causes a yellowish discoloration in the skin and eyes.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
The symptoms for ampullary cancer include nausea, weight loss, anorexia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Some patients also complained of experiencing fever and excessive vomiting.

The success of treating ampullary cancer lies on early detection. Ampullary cancer can be diagnosed by laboratory tests, ultrasonography of the abdomen, and CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis area. Common laboratory procedures done to diagnose ampullary cancer include electrolyte panel, complete blood count, liver function studies and CA-19-9. Ultrasonography of the abdomen, on the other hand, works by providing initial data to evaluate the condition of the common bile duct and to see if obstruction has already occurred. Ultrasonography is also important to determine metastatic growth around the liver and the lymph nodes. CT scan, on the other hand, is done to assess the growth rate of the tumor and to project the path that it will be passing through.
An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. If you are worried about having ampullary cancer, visit your physician now and start making healthy lifestyle changes.