9 Warning Signs of Liver Cancer.
Cancer of the liver can move slowly and go undetected for quite a while.
After all, your liver is such a regenerative and resilient organ, it can continue to function
just enough to keep you going even when there is serious damage and disease at play.
Secondary liver cancer is more prevalent than primary liver cancer; the term refers to cancer
that originates somewhere else in the body and moves to the liver (metastasizes), where
it continues to grow.
Once liver cancer symptoms begin to materialize, they normally indicate a later stage cancer,
but there is a chance to catch the disease early – and hopefully slow or stop the progression
– if you spot any of these suspicious signs.
1.
Weight Loss.
One common early symptom of liver cancer is unexplained weight loss, affecting up to 40%
of cancer patients at the time of diagnosis.
If you’ve been eating regularly but your level activity or level of stress hasn’t
increased, the falling number on the scale could point to a serious underlying problem.
Often, this initial weight loss is linked to changes in appetite or periodic nausea
(two other early cancer symptoms), but the cancer could also be causing changes in your
metabolism, leading your body to burn through its calories quickly.
When weight loss comes with other changes or new discomforts, it’s time to see a doctor.
2.
An Enlarged Liver.
The liver is a fairly wide organ that sits relatively close to the surface of your body,
so physical changes are sometimes more pronounced than they would be in other organs.
Bumps or swelling on the right side under the lower ribs can indicate an enlarged liver,
which often comes with a feeling of fullness.
Several conditions can cause your liver to grow beyond its normal proportions, so this
doesn’t necessarily indicate cancer.
However, a more defined mass that’s firm to the touch could be a tumor, and demands
immediate attention.
3.
Pain in the Right Side.
The early stages of liver cancer rarely bring much pain or discomfort, but as the disease
progresses and the tumor grows, you may begin to notice some pressure and pain in the right
side of your upper abdomen.
In some cases, the pain is in the right shoulder blade: known as referred pain, this happens
when the liver begins to press on the nerves beneath the diaphragm that link to the nerves
in the shoulder.
The pain may be constant or it could come and go, and sometimes it’s only a mildly
uncomfortable sensation.
When pressure on the diaphragm is involved, chronic hiccups can come with the pain.
4.
Nausea.
It normally comes with a loss of appetite or abdominal swelling, but nausea could also
show up before any other symptoms of liver cancer.
As your liver loses function, it fails to filter out all the toxic by-products of your
regular metabolism, and those can build-up to cause a vague feeling of sickness, or more
pronounced nausea.
As the build-up continues, the nausea can worsen, turning into vomiting and severe loss
of appetite.
In other cases, the tumor on the liver will produce certain hormones that lead to high
blood calcium levels (called hypercalcemia), which can lead to nausea and other digestive
distress.
5.
Swelling.
When cancer cells affect the liver and surrounding area, they can cause changes in blood vessels
and lymph nodes, resulting in a build-up of fluid.
This swelling is known as ascites, and features a hard, protruding abdomen.
The backup of fluids can be explained in a number of ways: the cancer cells may have
spread to the abdominal lining and irritated the tissue, the cells may have increased pressure
in the veins that drain through the liver, or they may begin to block the lymphatic system.
In any case, ascites will not go away by itself, whether or not it is caused by cancer – you
will need to have your doctor drain the fluid away.
6.
Itching.
Certain types of cancer tend to cause itching all over the body, and while experts aren’t
exactly sure why they suspect it has something to do with the substances released by the
tumor.
Although Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma account for the most severe itching,
everything from stomach cancer to brain tumors have been known to cause chronic, widespread
itching.
In the case of liver cancer, itching is likely the result of bile building up in your body,
and should begin to calm down with appropriate treatment.
7.
Yellowing Skin and Eyes.
Once cancer cells start to block your bile ducts, the bile from your liver will flow
back into your bloodstream instead of into your small intestine, causing your skin and
the whites of your eyes to turn a dull yellow.
This condition is known as jaundice, and apart from yellowing the skin and eyes, the toxic
levels of bile can lead to severe itch, dark coloured urine, and light coloured stools.
While jaundice doesn’t always indicate liver cancer, it usually signals a serious disorder
that calls for immediate treatment.
8.
Loss of Appetite.
Food aversions and less inclination to eat meals isn’t that uncommon – everything
from a virus to stress can drain your appetite for a time.
However, an ongoing loss of appetite can signal a problem with your metabolism or the organs
surrounding your stomach; in the case of liver cancer, the enlarged liver can begin to press
on the stomach, leaving you with a feeling of fullness even after eating a very small
amount.
Sometimes your metabolic processes are interrupted, which confuses your body’s need to take
in calories and its ability to use them.
Appetite loss can quickly lead to weight loss, fatigue, and malnutrition.
9.
Weakness and Fatigue As with many types of cancer, weakness and
fatigue are often the first signs of a deeper problem.
Sometimes the cancer itself interferes with your metabolism and energy stores, but dealing
with the pain and discomfort of other symptoms can also leave you feeling exhausted.
Fatigue is more than feeling tired: this is when you wake up feeling unrested and continue
to struggle with a heavy, tired feeling throughout the day.
Many patients claim they’re too tired to manage their daily tasks, and eventually,
they stop doing the things they enjoy.
Fatigue can be mental as well as physical, and at times you may find it difficult to
concentrate or recall information.
Remember that these symptoms can also point to other issues, so it’s important not to
jump to conclusions – but you should never ignore anything that indicates liver problems.
Since it’s virtually impossible to diagnose liver cancer without a series of specific
medical tests, the sooner you bring your concerns to your doctor, the quicker they can arrive
at a diagnosis