Liver cancer symptoms
Liver cancer is a form of cancer with a high mortality rate. Liver cancers can be
classified into two types. They are either primary, when the cancer starts in the liver
itself; or metastatic, when the cancer has spread to the liver from some other part of the
body
The early symptoms of primary, as well as metastatic, liver cancer are often vague and
not unique to liver disorders. The long lagtime between the beginning of the tumor's growth and signs of illness is the major
reason why the disease has such a high mortality rate. At the time of diagnosis, patients
are often tired, with fever, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. They may look emaciated
and generally ill. As the tumor grows bigger, it stretches the membrane surrounding the
liver (the capsule), causing pain in the upper abdomen on the right side. The pain may
extend into the back and shoulder. Some patients develop a collection of fluid, known as
ascites, in the abdominal cavity. Others may show signs of bleeding into the digestive
tract. In addition, the tumor may block the ducts of the liver or the gall bladder,
leading to jaundice. In patients with jaundice, the whites of the eyes and the skin may
turn yellow, and the urine becomes dark-colored.
Symptoms can vary, and many times liver metastases can be
asymptomatic. When they occur, symptoms include:
- weight loss
- pain, usually in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
- jaundice
- fevers
- sweats
- weight loss
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