What Are the Warning Signs of Liver Cancer?
Symptoms are hardly seen in the initial stages. As the tumor size increases, it may cause pain in the right side of the abdomen. Some patients may have worsening symptoms of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, which often precedes the development of cancer of the liver.
Some of the early warning signs of liver cancer include:
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver under the ribs on the right side)
- Pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade
- Ascites (abdominal swelling)
- Fluid build-up in the abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Other common symptoms include:
Fever unrelated to other conditions
Enlarged veins in the abdomen
Abnormal bruising or bleeding
Decreased appetite
Nausea or vomiting
Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen felt as a mass under the ribs on the left side)
White, chalky stools
Itching
Feeling of fullness after a small meal
General weakness or fatigue
Tumors in the liver produce hormones that act on other organs, causing:
- Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels), which presents with nausea, confusion, constipation,
- weakness, or muscle problems
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) leading to fatigue and fainting
- Gynecomastia (breast enlargement)
- Shrinkage of testicles in man
- Erythrocytosis (elevated red blood cell count) leading to redness and flushing
- Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels)
What is liver cancer?
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