The liver is the second largest organ in the human body but when cancer develops, there are not usually many obvious symptoms. With common complaints including fatigue, loss of appetite, or even just feeling unwell - it can be easy to dismiss an early warning sign as another part of day-to-day life.
However, as the liver is located on the right side of your abdomen, when cancerous cells begin to multiply the organ can start to apply pressure on your stomach. This means that liver cancer's biggest red flag is not actually to do with the liver.
Cancer Research UK says that one of the key signs is "a lump in the right side of your abdomen", caused by the liver swelling and protruding into the gut. For this reason, another key indicator is a swollen stomach and not feeling hungry.
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Another seemingly unrelated symptom caused by this swelling is abnormal pain in your right shoulder. Cancer Research UK says this happens as the liver gets bigger from the growing cancer, and causes swelling on the right side of your abdomen [or] the cancer (or cirrhosis) increases pressure in the liver causing blood to back up in the vessels (veins). This forces fluid out of the veins into the abdomen".
One well-known symptom of issues with the liver is jaundice, when your skin and eyes develop a yellow tinge as the liver is unable to process a yellow substance called bilirubin. However, not everyone who develops liver cancer will see this symptom right away.
These digestive problems associated with liver cancer are due to the large organ's primary purpose, producing bile, breaking down fats into energy and filtering out toxins. These are all key digestive processes so a loss of appetite, or a rapid drop in weight, are also associated with cancer development.
Thankfully, liver cancer is relatively rare in the UK, accounting for roughly two per cent of all cancer diagnoses. Of that two per cent, the majority of liver cancer patients will see the disease spread to the liver, rather than originate there.
The NHS says that the causes of primary liver cancer are unclear but there are certain risk factors that might make you more prone, such as:
- Being over 60
- Having hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, gallstones, diabetes, and HIV
- Being male
- Having a close relative who has had primary liver cancer
If you are experiencing these symptoms you should speak to your doctor, though it is unlikely due to cancer, they could be a sign of other potential infections and diseases.
