Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month, observed in February, raises awareness about bile duct cancer, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that develops in the bile ducts that carry digestive fluids from the liver to the small intestine. The observance aims to educate about symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options, and to advocate for more research funding for this understudied disease.
History
Cholangiocarcinoma has historically been a neglected cancer due to its rarity, receiving less research funding and public attention than more common cancers. The awareness month was established by patient advocacy groups and medical foundations to bring attention to the disease, which has a poor prognosis partly due to late diagnosis. Awareness efforts have increased in the 2010s and 2020s.
How It's Celebrated
Medical organizations and patient advocacy groups hold educational events, share information about risk factors and symptoms, and fundraise for research. Individuals share stories, wear green ribbons (the awareness color for bile duct cancer), and participate in awareness campaigns on social media.