PENNSYLVANIA. (WHTM) – A Midstate woman is on a mission to raise awareness for a rare form of cancer. Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer also referred to as bile duct cancer. Experts say it’s very rare but it’s on the rise.

“The American Cancer Society does estimate that cancers of the liver and bile duct will become the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. by 2030,” said Oregon Health and Science University Surgical Oncologist Dr. Flavio Rocha.

Some risk factors for Cholangiocarcinoma include:

“Inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, viral infections, and also liver flukes,” said Hershey Medical Center Hematologist/Oncologist Dr. Nelson Yee.

In 2017, Kristen Hall’s dad, Fred Weaver, who was born and raised in Hershey was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma.

“My father had very few symptoms. He started with simple nausea and being unable to digest food. He would feel sick after meals. And that was his only symptom…And when he was diagnosed, he wasn’t given much time,” said Hall.

But Weaver lived another five years. He passed away in 2022, now Hall has made it her mission to raise awareness.

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Recently, Governor Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation for February 15^th to be recognized in Pennsylvania as Cholangiocarcinoma Day.

“It’s important to me that anyone whose life is impacted by this cancer knows that they don’t have to fight alone, that they don’t have to do this on their own. There’s there’s help. There’s hope out there. And we were lucky enough to find it,” said Hall.

Hall encourages people to ‘Light it Green for CCA’ to help spread awareness.

Hall has created a Facebook support group for those fighting Cholangiocarcinoma in Central Pennsylvania. It’s called ‘FightCCA Central.’

To learn more about Cholangiocarcinoma click here.

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