Recognising the Signs of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a life-threatening disease, and it can be difficult to detect in the early stages. Identifying these warning signs and symptoms can result in the detection of this disorder sooner, and it will have more benefits. In this article, we will define some of the symptoms associated with liver cancer and when you might need to seek treatment earlier than others.

What is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer, also referred to as hepatic cancer, occurs when malignant (cancerous) cells arise from within the liver. The liver has a number of functions, such as detoxification, the production of bile for digestion, and the storage of glucose to provide energy. So when cancer takes over the liver, it essentially ruins these important functions and can cause serious health repercussions.

Types of Liver Cancer

Types of liver cancer include:

• Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): Hepatocellular Carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer, arising from the chief and main cells in the liver, hepatocytes.
• Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer): A type of liver and bile duct tumour that develops in the cells lining the interior of a small tube-like structure within the body.
• Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma of the liver are rare cancers that start in the liver's blood vessels.
• Hepatoblastoma: Hepatoblastoma is a less common form of liver cancer found mostly in children younger than three years old.

Liver Cancer Warning Signs

Symptoms often do not appear until liver cancer is in an advanced stage, and determining early detection can be difficult. Unfortunately, there are a few red flags you need to know about:

Unexplained Weight Loss

Unintended weight loss is one of the first signs that liver cancer may be present. However, unintentional weight loss can be a red flag for an unaddressed health problem. Weight loss itself might be caused by conditions as diverse as cancers, dementia and irritable bowel syndrome, so you should never dismiss it if the person is also ill in some other way.

Loss of Appetite

A major loss of appetite with eating much less food than normal is another sign that indicates liver cancer. Shifting to this way of eating can be gradual or sudden and is frequently combined with the sensation that you are full after just a few bites.

Abdominal Pain and Swelling

If you have pain or tenderness in the upper right side of your abdomen and it's continuous, that could be a sign of liver cancer. People with Hepatitis B infection may also feel some swelling or fullness in the abdomen as the liver enlarges and fluid collects inside (ascites).

Nausea and Vomiting

Though nausea and vomiting are often associated with many illnesses, they can point to liver cancer when occurring for a long time. Liver Function symptoms of poor liver function can include any or all of the following: they tend to be associated with our livers' ability to detoxify, metabolism hormones, use fats for energy (oxidation), and manufacture bile.

Fatigue

Unrecoverable fatigue or weakness could also be a signal of liver cancer. Exhaustion is commonly intense and may interfere with daily activities and quality of life.

Jaundice

One result of the breakage is bilirubin, and jaundice (yellowing of one's skin or eyes) develops when this byproduct cannot be broken down properly. Jaundice is a revealing factor of liver cancer arrest, but this sign can vary from one person to another.

Dark Urine and Pale Stools

If you have liver disease, you may also experience discoloration of your urine or stool. Dark urine can result from increased bilirubin in the blood, and pale or clay-coloured stools are also possible since bile production is reduced.

Itchy Skin

Severe itching without an obvious reason can be a sign of liver cancer. This itching, called pruritus, results from bile salts accumulating in the skin due to compromised liver function.

Enlarged Liver or Spleen

When the liver (hepatitis) is inflamed or infected, it causes a mass under the ribs on the right side of the abdomen. The enlarged liver can be a tumour cell signalling from the area; if you do not enlarge it, it is out of danger.

Recognising Liver Cancer Early

Because early detection generally results in more successful treatment for liver cancer. Steps to Identify Liver Cancer Early:

Regular Health Check-ups

Regular check-ups or routine health examinations with a healthcare provider may help in the early detection of liver cancer. The diagnosis of liver cancer uses blood tests, imaging (such as an ultrasound or CT scan), and liver function tests to detect abnormalities that may show that a tumour is present.

Monitoring Risk Factors

But some factors increase the risk of liver cancer, like:

• Chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection
• Cirrhosis (hardening of the liver).
• Heavy alcohol use
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Aflatoxin exposure (toxins produced by moulds that contaminate food)
• Liver cancer in the family

If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your healthcare provider about screening more often.

Being Aware of Symptoms

Listen to your body for any changes, and be sure to contact a physician if you encounter symptoms such as the ones listed above. Early intervention can have a huge impact on the success rate of liver cancer treatment.

Conclusion

Identifying liver cancer symptoms is not easy but knowing the signals and high-risk activities can help us with early detection of this dreadful disease. Warning signs of a potential liver condition that cannot be taken lightly include unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, pale coloured stools, itchy skin, enlarged liver or spleen. Developing routine health screenings, identifying risk factors and understanding signs to recognise liver cancer early are key steps in its detection. Localised and systemic symptoms emerge the moment a person is exposed to burn. If you experience any such symptoms, it's better to visit your healthcare provider at once. If detected in time and treated, it can certainly make quite a difference to the quality of your life.

Frequently Asked Questions