Liver cancer: symptoms
Cancer of the liver is a serious form of cancer. A cancer or tumour of the liver can either start within the liver (called primary liver cancer) or be caused by cancer cells that have come from other parts of the body and spread to the liver (called secondary liver cancer). Most liver cancers are of the secondary type.
The cancers most likely to spread to the liver are those nearby which have their blood flowing directly to the liver, such as the stomach, pancreas and colon. However, most cancers of the body can spread to the liver.
Symptoms
The symptoms for both primary and secondary liver cancer are similar. Liver cancers often do not produce symptoms for some time during their growth. However, symptoms, when they do appear, may include:
- jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes;
- dark-coloured urine and pale stools;
- swelling in the abdomen caused by fluid build-up (called ascites);
- abdominal pain that may vary in intensity, especially pain over the liver;
- the presence of a lump on the right-hand side under the rib cage (enlarged liver);
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- general feeling of ill health;
- nausea and occasional vomiting;
- pain around the right shoulder blade;
- recurring fevers; and
- internal bleeding, caused by rupture of a tumour.
However, some people may have no discernible symptoms making early detection of their liver cancer nearly impossible.
Examination and diagnosis
If you have any of these symptoms your doctor will want to make a careful evaluation by taking a complete history of your symptoms and conducting a physical examination. Your doctor will look for indications of diseases that are known to cause liver cancer, including hepatitis, haemochromatosis (excess iron in the liver cells), cirrhosis (liver damage) that may have been caused by disease or alcoholism, and any history of cancer in your family.
Your doctor will also check your abdomen for any signs that your liver has swollen or enlarged. They will be able to feel a hard mass on the right hand side below the ribs if it is enlarged. Your doctor may also recommend that you have a sample of blood taken to check the levels of enzymes in your liver. These tests are known as liver function tests.
Your doctor may send you for some investigations including CT scanning, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound or needle biopsy (where cells from the liver are obtained through a very thin needle inserted into the liver and then studied under a microscope).
Treatment will depend on the type of liver cancer that is present and how advanced the cancer is. Your doctor is the best person to advise you about the best management options for your particular condition.
Last Reviewed: 26 July 2001
