{"id":3607,"date":"2019-02-05T07:05:45","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T07:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=3607"},"modified":"2021-05-25T18:13:44","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T18:13:44","slug":"12-most-common-liver-cancer-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-most-common-liver-cancer-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Most Common Liver Cancer Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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According to statistics from cancer.net, in 2019, over 42,000 Americans will receive a diagnosis of primary liver cancer. The disease is three times more likely to occur in men than in women, and more than 30,000 people will lose their lives to this form of cancer.
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It\u2019s important to note that there is a difference between primary liver cancer, i.e., tumors that originate in the liver, and metastasis tumors. These tumors evolve in the liver as cancer spreads from other parts of the body.
Unfortunately, there are no screening tests that can identify the presence of liver cancer, and affected individuals may need to catch their symptoms early on if they want to receive the best chance of remission and survival from the disease.
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Here are eight symptoms of liver cancer you need to watch for, and if you notice any of them, contact your doctor immediately for a consultation and diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain in Your Right Side
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One of the first symptoms of liver cancer to appear is a dull pain in the upper right side of your abdomen<\/a>. This area houses the liver, and when the ache begins, it\u2019s a sign that the liver is experiencing distress.
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Upon visiting your doctor, they may press down on the liver to see if you notice any pain symptoms. If you notice a dramatic increase in pain when they apply pressure to the affected area, it could be a sign of liver cancer.
However, pain in this area is not always indicative of the disease, and there are many other reasons as to why this region is experiencing pain symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other possible problems may be to do with contracting diseases such as hepatitis, or infections of the gallbladder and pancreas.
In some cases, the nerves around the lower ribcage that link to the right shoulder blade may come under pressure from a swollen liver. This pressure results in pain in the back of the right shoulder blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Abdominal swelling
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Liver cancer typically produces one large tumor that creates inflammation and swelling <\/a>of the organ. Affected individuals may notice signs of swelling on the right side of their abdomen as cancer cells begin to grow. Tumors may protrude through the outer wall of the liver, producing a mass that\u2019s firm to the touch.
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The additional inflammation of the liver causes it to expand, creating swelling. However, overweight or obese individuals may not notice the swelling due to adipose tissue. Those people that do discover the swelling can confuse it with bloat or other gastrointestinal issues that create swelling in the GI tract.
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However, other conditions, such as a fatty liver, can also cause the liver to swell beyond its standard size. Liver damage almost always produces some symptoms of pain that accompany the swelling as well. Therefore, it\u2019s vital to see a doctor as soon as you can after noticing signs of abdominal swelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Itching
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Individuals with liver cancer often notice that their skin starts to dry out and they experience symptoms of itchy <\/a>skin. The itching isn\u2019t confined to the area around the liver and may occur anywhere on the body. Itching also isn\u2019t limited to liver cancer, as many forms of the disease pass on this symptom.
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The most aggressive itching symptoms seem to come from individuals suffering from Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma. However, brain cancer, bone cancer, and a variety of others also cause itching symptoms all over the body, and at any time of the day.
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With liver cancer, it\u2019s thought that the constant buildup of bile in the organ produces itching symptoms. Most practitioners and oncologists are at a loss to explain the source of the itching. Other medical professionals claim that tumors release chemicals that cause the itching. Doctors can relieve these itching symptoms using medications to treat the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Loss of Appetite
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A loss of appetite <\/a>is one of the first severe symptoms of liver cancer. When a tumor begins to grow in the liver, it prevents the organ from functioning as it normally would. Since the liver is the body\u2019s filter, toxins begin to accumulate in surrounding tissues. These toxins affect your appetite, and you may notice that you stop feeling hungry.
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Liver tumors also prevent the liver from absorbing nutrients and minerals, leading to deficiencies in essential compounds, such as vitamin B, and calcium. These micronutrient deficiencies result in the body experiencing feelings of fatigue and a decline in cognitive function. Excess fluid accumulated in the abdomen may also cause affected individuals to feel full faster than they usually would with healthy liver function.
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A loss of appetite typically accompanies any form of cancer, so if you notice you\u2019re feeling less hungry than usual, it\u2019s best to make an appointment with your doctor for consultation and diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Yellow Skin and Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Individuals who have liver cancer tend to develop yellowing of the skin and eyes as bilirubin begins to enter the bloodstream. This condition is called \u201cjaundice<\/a>,\u201d and it can be fatal if left untreated.
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Bilirubin forms when red blood cells break down. Healthy livers metabolize bilirubin to keep blood levels low. However, when there is an overproduction of bilirubin, jaundice begins to occur. The first signs of the condition appear within 48-hours after liver function declines. Symptoms start to peak 48 to 72-hours after and if not treated, the patient can end up in the emergency room shortly after that.
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Symptoms of jaundice can indicate liver cancer, due to a malfunctioning organ that can no longer keep bilirubin levels low in the bloodstream. As we mentioned, the liver is the body’s filter, and disrupting its normal function sees rapid degradation of your health as toxins begin to accumulate in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Nausea and Vomiting
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These symptoms are typical across all forms of cancer. However, they\u2019re especially prominent in cancerous livers. The symptoms commonly occur with abdominal swelling, but they may be the first signs of the disease to show.
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As the liver loses its ability to process blood and filter toxins<\/a>, your health begins to decline. The body fails to remove the toxic by-products of metabolism, building into a slight sensation of nausea, accompanied by the urge to vomit.
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These symptoms occur because you’re dealing with the ever-increasing levels of toxins in your blood. If left untreated, the body may go into toxic shock, and fall into a coma. It goes without saying that when you\u2019re feeling nauseous and trying to vomit, the last thing you think about is eating.
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In some cases, a liver tumor can produce hormones that cause the accumulation of calcium in the bloodstream, also known as \u201chypercalcemia,\u201d and leads to other forms of digestive stress, such as stomach aches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Unexpected Weight Loss
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A loss of appetite means that individuals who have liver cancer find it difficult to eat. They often experience bouts of nausea and vomiting that make the idea of eating a meal seem repulsive. The body needs calories to maintain its body weight, and when you start eating less, you\u2019re taking in less energy to assist with metabolism<\/a>.
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As a result, digestion slows, thinking becomes clouded, and you experience feelings of fatigue. Consuming fewer calories than the body requires also leads to significant drops in body weight. You may notice that you\u2019re losing large amounts of body mass on a weekly basis. Some liver cancer patients report losing as much as 15-pounds in a week after being diagnosed with the condition.
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Cancer can also ramp up your metabolism, causing your body to burn through more calories, inducing a drop on the scale. Please speak to your doctor about your weight loss and ask them to prescribe you appetite stimulants to help you eat your meals and prevent further weight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Dark Urine
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Liver cancer also affects your urine <\/a>and stool. When the liver doesn\u2019t function correctly, it leads to an accumulation of bile salts in the organ. As a result of this dysfunction, the bile pigments excrete through urine and feces. These pigments are dark in color, and they tend to make your urine look dark orange or light brown, similar to blood in the urine.
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Changes in the color of your urine can mean the development of a liver tumor or damage to the kidneys. If your urine is dark and you have no feelings of tightness in your lower back, you may be suffering from liver damage or liver cancer.
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Individuals with dark urine may also start to notice the onset of jaundice in the eyes and skin. When the two occur together, it\u2019s a sure-fire sign of liver damage and a possible liver tumor. Light-colored stools are also another sign of the presence of bilirubin pigments in your feces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with the effects of liver cancer find that they experience frequent bouts of infection<\/a>. The liver is one of the body\u2019s primary filters, and when it becomes dysfunctional due to the growth of tumors, it loses its efficiency. As a result, the patient experiences a buildup of toxins in the liver that lead to the development of further adverse health disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis is one of the more common types of infection in people with liver cancer. Infection with Hepatitis A, B, or C may present a life-threatening situation for individuals with liver cancer. Hepatitis A and B are common infections in school kids and preschoolers that have yet to develop a robust immune response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in most cases of hepatitis infection, adults and kids can recover from the disease with no lasting damage to the liver. However, those patients with liver cancer that contract hepatitis may develop cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, which is irreversible.
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10. Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients with liver cancer that come down with an infection may experience a fever<\/a>, depending on the pathogen responsible. Running a fever is the body\u2019s natural defense against disease. The brain notices an invading viral or bacterial pathogen and signals the immune system to start creating extra anti-bodies and white blood cells to combat the invaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the hypothalamus calls for the creation of pyrogens to increase your body temperature. These pyrogen proteins dock with nerve ending in your lower back and tell the central nervous system to turn up the heat of the pathogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both viruses and bacteria struggle to replicate and spread in a fever state, allowing the body to control the infection and kill off invading pathogens. In some cases, the fever may run high, resulting in the development of chills and dehydration. In most cases, the fever subsides after the body clears the infection.
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11. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients with liver cancer that contract an infection typically struggle to clear the pathogen without medical intervention. As a result, the patient will run a high fever, over 101F. Along with running a significantly higher than average body temperature, the patient may also start to experience the onset of chills<\/a>.
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When the pyrogen proteins signal the CNS to turn up the heat, the patient may experience a lag as their body catches up to the current setpoint temperature. As a result, the patient may start to shiver and feel cold, even though they are running a fever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no remedy or cure for the chills, and they typically subside after the fever breaks, and the patient enters recovery from the infection. Doctors are hesitant to treat fevers unless they reach temperatures above 101F, where it might start to cause brain damage in the affected individual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, patients will benefit from the use of cold compresses on the forehead, under the armpits, and between the legs.
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12. Cirrhosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The liver is one of the few regenerating organs. When the liver has exposure to toxins, such as alcohol and medications, it results in the formation of scar tissue as the wounds heal. Patients who consistently scar their liver through alcohol or drug abuse, run the risk of developing late-stage scarring of the liver, known as \u201ccirrhosis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cirrhosis <\/a>is a chronic condition, and doctors have no treatment available for patients with the disease. In many cases, the development of cirrhosis leads to the formation of clusters of abnormal cells that mutate into cancer cells, causing the onset of liver cancer in the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients diagnosed with cirrhosis require immediate lifestyle changes to avoid further damage to the organ. Failure to adapt to the changes and limit old behaviors responsible for the development of cirrhosis may result in life-threatening consequences for the patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected individuals need to refrain from consuming any form of alcoholic beverage or methylated medications that could further the progression of their condition.
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13. Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the liver starts to lose its efficiency at removing toxins from the body, it results in a slew of adverse health disorders in the affected individual. One of the more common signs of issues with your liver involves the development of persistent feelings of fatigue<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In such a case, the patient may feel tired all day, even though they had a full night\u2019s rest. No amount of coffee or energy drinks seems to pull you out of this sense of chronic fatigue, and you feel like taking a nap all day long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fatigue dramatically reduces your quality of life. When you don\u2019t have the energy to get out of bed in the morning, it\u2019s time to visit the doctor for a diagnosis of your condition. Your doctor will take your family history and ask you questions about your current state of health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the routine checks in diagnosis is when the doctor presses down on the area of the abdomen housing the liver. The patient experiences pain and the doctor will use this indication as a sign to check for liver distress.
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14. Edema<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Edema is the medical term for extreme swelling. Edema can occur anywhere on the body for multiple reasons. If you injure your knee joint, you may experience the onset of edema that swells the knee, and then migrates down to the lower limbs, creating signs of inflammation in the calve muscle, ankle<\/a>, and foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with liver cancer may also develop edema in their abdomen. Liver cancer causes an increase in blood pressure inside the portal vein of the liver, resulting in the accumulation of fluid, also known as \u201cascites,\u201d which spread to the upper right leg.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with liver cancer find that they cannot produce enough of specific blood proteins, such as albumin, resulting in the development of edema in the abdomen and legs. Doctors treat edema using prescription-strength anti-inflammatories to reduce the swelling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, patients with liver cancer run the risk of developing multiple bouts of edema throughout their treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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