“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder.Ian was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December and yesterday he passed at 13.07. I’d stopped all work to be his carer but neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast. He was my absolute rock and we’d been partners for more than 30 years,” Ben wrote in a long post captioning his picture with Ian on Instagram.
“He was the kindest, most generous spirited and loving human being. He was a wonderful wonderful actor and everyone who worked with him was touched by his heart and light. I honestly don’t know what I’ll do without him by my side. He coped with his dreadful illness with such bravery, with no self pity. Ever. He was remarkable and will be so missed. This pic was taken at Christmas time after I’d got him out of hospital and even though he’d gone through the worst three weeks there you can still see his joy and love shining through. Rest well my sweet Chianni,” Ben wrote.
What is bile duct cancer?
Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, originates in the bile ducts, which are thin tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. This cancer is relatively rare but aggressive, with a poor prognosis, often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited.
Symptoms of bile duct cancer may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, itching, weight loss, and fever. However, these symptoms can also be indicative of other conditions, making early detection challenging.
What causes head and neck cancers, expert explains
The exact cause of bile duct cancer is unclear, but risk factors include chronic inflammation of the bile ducts (such as in conditions like primary sclerosing cholangitis), bile duct abnormalities, liver fluke infections, and exposure to certain chemicals.
Treatment options for bile duct cancer depend on the cancer’s stage and location but may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy. However, due to the cancer’s aggressive nature and late diagnosis, the prognosis for bile duct cancer is often poor.