Signs and symptoms of liver cancer (liver)

Cancer cells can grow anywhere, including in the liver or liver. If this condition is not immediately treated with treatment for liver cancer, the cancer cells can continue to damage the surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of having this disease. To date, no medical test is available specifically to detect liver cancer. You should know what the signs and symptoms of liver cancer are from an early age.

Recognize the signs and symptoms of liver cancer (liver)

The liver is an important organ whose job is to filter and clean the blood from harmful substances, digest fat, make protein, and store glycogen as an energy source. Well, this organ consists of various cells. If liver cells work or grow abnormally, liver cancer can occur.

Liver cancer occurs due to cancer cells directly attacking the liver (primary liver cancer) or due to the spread of cancer cells to other tissues that have reached the liver (liver metastases). Primary liver cancer usually causes symptoms relatively earlier than metastatic cancer.

According to Stanford Health Care, the symptoms of liver cancer are divided into two types, namely symptoms of primary liver cancer and symptoms of secondary liver cancer (metastatic). Among others are:

Primary liver cancer symptoms

The signs or symptoms of liver cancer usually do not appear until the tumor is large enough to push or collide with the liver or other organs. However, this may occur only months or years after the cancer has formed.

Usually, the symptoms of liver cancer that forms in organs are characterized by:

1. Nausea and vomiting

One of the symptoms of hepatoma or liver cancer that may appear is nausea and vomiting. This can happen without a previous trigger. Therefore, if you suddenly feel nauseous and want to vomit for no reason, it may be time to get checked out by a doctor.

2. There is swelling

One of the symptoms that may appear in liver cancer patients is the appearance of swelling. Not just anywhere, this swelling appeared in the upper right abdomen.

This indicates that your liver or liver is swollen and larger in size. Apart from causing swelling, these symptoms of liver cancer can also cause pain that will be experienced by the patient.

3. Jaundice

Discoloration of the skin, the whites of the eyes, and yellowing of the nails are common symptoms of jaundice (jaundice). This condition occurs due to the buildup of bile salts in the skin because the liver is not functioning properly.

Usually these symptoms appear accompanied by the appearance of itching on the skin. In addition, some people with this condition experience a pale or whitish change in the color of their urine.

When viewed as a whole, the symptoms of liver cancer are similar to bile cancer (cholangiocarcinoma). It's just a symptom jaundice will appear first in people who have bile cancer.

4. Bleeding

One of the characteristics or symptoms of primary liver cancer is bleeding. This condition can be indicated by the ease with which your body bleeds at certain times.

For example, you may vomit blood, develop multiple bruises on your body, bleed a lot from a minor wound, or your gums and teeth bleed when you brush your teeth.

5. Lumps in the stomach

The appearance of a hard lump or swelling in the area under the ribs on the right side, is the first sign of liver cancer. These bumps are sometimes painless, but they will make you feel uncomfortable. If pain appears in the upper left abdominal area, it means that liver cancer has caused the spleen to swell.

Symptoms of metastatic liver cancer

Meanwhile, liver cancer that occurs as a result of the spread of cancer that occurs in other organs of the body may be presented with a slightly different condition, but with slightly similar symptoms to the previous one, including:

1. Weight loss drastically

Liver cancer patients who occur because cancer in other organs of the body spreads can be characterized by significant weight loss. This condition is also accompanied by a loss of appetite.

2. Fluid buildup

Symptoms of liver cancer that may arise due to metastasis are a buildup of fluid or ascites in the stomach. This condition can cause your stomach to feel bloated, leading to nausea and vomiting that you may experience.

In addition, this can also interfere with the appetite of people with liver cancer, so that the body does not get the nutrients it needs and there is a drastic weight loss.

Apart from causing indigestion, the fluid that continues to accumulate can enter the lungs and cause breathing problems, such as shortness of breath.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom that all cancer patients experience. However, the fatigue caused by cancer is different from the usual fatigue that will go away when you have rested. Cancer fatigue usually lasts 6 to 12 months.

4. Enlarged breasts in men, smaller testicles or other rare symptoms

In certain cases, liver cancer can cause rare symptoms, such as gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts), smaller testicles and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This condition occurs because the function of the liver to produce certain hormones is impaired.

The symptoms that have been mentioned do need attention. Even so, not all cancer patients experience these symptoms or signs.

Some even realized their health condition when the liver cancer stage was already at a quite severe stage. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with doing early screening for liver cancer.

In addition, avoid various causes of liver cancer and if you have a risk of this disease, try to reduce the risk factors you have. That way, you have made prevention efforts against liver cancer.