Stage III distal extrahepatic bile duct cancer is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB. In stage IIIA, cancer has spread into the wall of the distal extrahepatic bile duct and to 4 or more nearby lymph nodes. In stage IIIB, cancer has spread to the large vessels that carry blood to the organs in the abdomen. Cancer may have spread to 1 or more nearby lymph nodes.