Symptoms of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer symptoms (hepatocellular carcinoma) most commonly develop in people who have underlying liver disease. Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with cirrhosis; therefore conditions that cause cirrhosis are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. These include alcoholism, vinyl chloride exposure, aflatoxin exposure, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tyrosinemia, and alpha one anti-trypsin deficiency.

Approximately 30-40% of people diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma have little to no liver cancer symptoms. In patients with liver cancer symptoms, common complaints are weight loss, abdominal pain, abdominal fullness, ascites, and jaundice. In a small minority of patients (1%), blood may develop in the abdominal cavity (hemoperitoneum).

Liver cancer does not commonly metastasize, but when it does, it most commonly metastasizes to the lungs. In these patients shortness of breath and cough may develop.

Patients with cirrhosis who are at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma are sometimes screened with ultrasounds of the liver. A blood test used to help follow the course of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is the AFP.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include increased gas production beginning 15-30 minutes after eating lactose containing foods.

Symptoms of liver cancer often do not lead directly to the underlying diagnosis and many symptoms can be misleading. Please review all concerns and information found on this website with your health care provider.