Known Liver Cancer Symptoms

The liver is a small organ of the approximate size of a football that is located above the stomach. Cancer of the liver is one of the most common types of cancer in the world although it is slightly less common in this country. There are many liver cancer symptoms however in most cases these do not manifest until the later stages of the disease.

The most common form of liver cancer in the United States is generally cancers that spread or metastasize from other areas of the body. These are cancers that begin somewhere else and move to the liver over a period of time. Primary liver cancer is cancer that begins in the liver and metastasizes to other areas.

Although anyone can develop liver cancer at any time some factors that may increase the risk of being affected by this disease include age, sex and certain inherited liver diseases. Liver cancer is most often found in older male adults. Other risk factors that increase this risk include excessive consumption of alcohol, diabetes, obesity and recurring hepatitis infections.

There are several liver cancer symptoms which may include unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, pain in the upper abdomen that may spread to the back and shoulder, nausea, vomiting, changes in metabolism, sudden weakness, retention of fluid, excessive fatigue, jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes and swollen liver, spleen or abdomen.

In many cases liver cancer is not diagnosed until the later stages because often the symptoms do not appear until that time. In the cases where symptoms are not present it is difficult to diagnose this cancer early because you may not know there is a problem.

There are three basis tests that your doctor may use to determine if you have liver cancer.

• Blood Tests

  In some cases blood tests may show that the liver is not functioning correctly.

• Imaging

  Certain tests that produce pictures such as ultrasound, CT scans, MRI or magnetic resonance imaging may be used.

• Biopsy

  This is where a sample of liver tissue is removed from the body usually by a needle and looked at under a microscope for abnormalities.

Once liver cancer has been diagnosed the next step is to determine how advanced the cancer is. This process is called staging the disease. Liver cancer consists of four stages and which treatment that may be recommended is largely dependent on which stage is present.

After liver cancer symptoms have been evaluated and liver cancer has been diagnosed and staged, treatment options will then be discussed by you and your doctor. It is very important that you seek the advice of a medical professional promptly upon noticing these symptoms as well as any other unusual symptoms you may be experiencing. The earlier liver cancer is detected the more likely the chances that the treatment will be effective. Aside from this, the further the disease progresses the less treatment options may be available. This is because as time passes some of these treatments may no longer be an option or may be ineffective.