Signs and symptoms are most often the result of liver damage.
Liver cancer is usually a single large tumor, whilemetastases(spread) are usually small and multiple.
These may occupy a significant part of the liver before they are detected.
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This is the case with liver cancer.
This pain is typically felt in the right shoulder, though it may occur on either side.
The pain may also extend into your back.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
It is resulting from the build-up of bile salts in the skin.
It is more easily detected in natural light, such as being outside, than in indoor light.
At the same time, urine may appear darker than normal, even without dehydration.
Bloat and Shortness of Breath
Fluid build-up in the abdomen referred to asascitescan indicate liver cancer.
In time, fluid build-up in the abdomen can push upward on the lungs causing shortness of breath.
Rapid and unexpected weight gain is also a possible sign of liver cancer.
This usually occurs due to the rapid build-up of fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
If you have a general sense that you are not well, see your healthcare provider.
These include glycogen storage diseases, brought on by rare genetic conditions with common complications that include hepatocellular carcinomas.
Diabetes may contribute to the risk of pancreatic cancer, and vice versa.
Tumors in the liver can themselves secrete an enzyme (aromatase) that contributes to gynecomastia, too.
Much of the evidence, however, points to cancer treatments as the cause.
Thisparaneoplastic syndromeis often related to advanced disease and is rarely a first sign of liver cancer.
Complications
Liver cancer can result in a number of complications.
Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, a rapid heart rate, pale skin, and lightheadedness.
Bile Duct Obstruction
Bile is made in the liver.
Several ducts ensure that it gets transported to the small intestine, either via the gallbladder or directly.
Bleeding
The liver is responsible for making proteins (clotting factors) that help your blood clot.
The first sign of liver disease may occur with frequent bleeding when you brush your teeth or frequent nosebleeds.
More serious bleeding, such as internal hemorrhage, may occur when the cancer is advanced.
Bleeding may occur in the stomach and intestines as well due to the same mechanism.
Symptoms may begin mildly with difficulty doing math-centered tasks, like balancing a checkbook.
There are ways to treat the encephalopathy, but the prognosis usually depends on the extent of the tumor.
If liver cancer is present, the prognosis is generally better the earlier the disease is diagnosed.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
You may experience nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms that occur with many health conditions.
Specific findings, like abdominal pain or jaundice, may help to refine the diagnosis.
Speak to your healthcare provider about any liver cancer symptoms or concerns.
In this case, the key point is to watch for achange in your symptoms.
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