What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

liver cancer is a type of cancer that affects the liver. It can be a primary form of cancer, which means that cancer begins in liver cells, or it may be metastatic cancer, which means that cancer spreads from other areas of the body to the liver. This type of cancer is rare in the United States, while the average age of diagnosis is around 60 or 70 years. In some parts of Asia and Africa it is much more common. Regardless of the country, it occurs more often in men than in women.

Many symptoms are associated with liver cancer. The most common symptoms include bloating and abdominal fullness for no apparent reason. Weakness, fatigue and inexplicable fever are also symptoms, as well as matte pain in the upper abdomen. This pain may also apply to the shoulder and back of the patient. Anorexia is also a common symptom of this cancer because the patient is experiencing loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea.

The symptoms of liver cancer may vary in patients who also have liver cirrhosis. CirrhosisIt causes symptoms to appear faster and more intense. However, individuals with cancer who do not have cirrhosis may not notice symptoms. As the tumor increases, the affected person can also feel pain in the back. There may also be portal hypertension and jaundice, which is characterized by the skin and white part of the eye.

In order to diagnose liver cancer, the physician must scan computer tomography (CT), radioisotope scanning or hepatic arteriography. Most patients are in advanced stages of cancer before diagnostics. At this stage, cancer has usually spread to other organs - most often to the brain and lungs - and to the lymphatic system. Individuals with liver cancer who are not treated with an life expectancy of three to four months. Those who receive treatment usually live for six to 18 months if therapy is used to treat the disease.