Liver Cancer Signs And Symptoms

Our liver, in particular, is like one of those factories that function day and night, supplying the body with clean blood, digesting foods and beverages, and storing energy in the form of sugars and fats. When cancer starts growing in this crucial plant, It looks like a primary matter. Since liver cancer has the chance of being treated when the symptoms are recognized early, we must compare its symptoms. Most patients today have no idea that they have cancer until the cancer cells are somewhat big for treatment, thus making treatment challenging.

What are some of the early signs of the disease that a patient experiences?

What makes patients of liver cancer less aware of the disease during its early phase is a little sneak. It often does not, at the beginning, cause discomfort, so it is referred to as a quiescent disease. But, usually, your body can give some signal that something is not quite right. Such symptoms might include fatigue even if they have slept well for the night. Usually, your appetite will be less, and the food that interested you one day will seem very innocent. Some people lose weight without trying to diet. These early warning signs are whispers from your body to pay attention.

What changes may I feel in my body?

While liver cancer develops, it may bring in some changes you may see and feel. The most typical physical signs include:

• Belly pain, especially on the right side under the ribs
• A mass or swelling in your belly
• Jaundice
• Bruising or bleeding easily
• Feeling very full after small meals
• Dark-colored urine
• Pale, chalky bowel movements
• Swelling in your legs and ankles
• Itchy skin
• Fever and night sweats
• Enlarged veins visible through the skin on your belly

Why does liver cancer cause pain?

When people ask about liver cancer symptoms, pain is often their biggest concern. The pain typically happens because the liver is getting bigger or because the cancer is stretching the covering of the liver. Imagine blowing up a balloon as it gets more prominent; the rubber stretches and feels tight. Something similar happens with liver cancer. The pain usually starts on the right side of your belly, under the ribs – since that’s where the liver sits. Some people also feel pain in the right shoulder. This is because the stretched liver irritates nerves that connect to the shoulder.

How does liver cancer affect my eating habits?

Liver cancer can also affect the way one feels about food. You could notice that you are no longer as hungry as before. Sometimes, when food is cooking, the smell may make you sick. Most people lose weight without making an effort because energy-consuming cancer cells consume a lot of energy from the body, and changes in the body process food. It’s like having a factory working overtime but not producing what your body needs.

Why does jaundice occur?

Jaundice is a condition that is mainly associated with liver diseases. A suffering person will have yellowish coloration around the skin and even the sclera of the eyes. This is because your liver is not metabolizing an orange-yellow pigment known as bilirubin as it should. Imagine your liver as a filter. When it’s duffed up by cancer, it can’t filter out this substance from your blood. It might be hard to notice yellow, especially in dim light. Some might see it when someone points it out or even in a photograph.

When should I start getting worried about tiredness?

Headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and lack of sleep are also natural feelings that may be experienced after a day of work or a night of sleep loss. However, the fatigue that comes from liver cancer is different. It’s like having a battery that doesn’t charge properly; no matter how much rest you take, you still feel thoroughly exhausted. If you have been thinking about it for over a few weeks and it has symptoms that may challenge your ordinary activities, consult your doctor.

How does liver cancer cause digestive problems?

The liver is essential to digestion. So, digestive problems are often a result of liver cancer. You might feel complete quickly, even if you’ve only had a little food. Some people get nausea or vomiting. Bowel movements may be pale or chalky colored rather than brown. This happens because the liver isn’t processing bile correctly. Think of bile as a natural food dye your body produces – when your liver isn’t working right, this “dye” doesn’t make it into your digestive system.

What about swelling in my body?

Swelling, particularly in the abdominal area and legs, is another critical symptom of liver disease. The swelling occurs because the liver will not correctly process fluids in your body. It is just like you have a drain clogged and cannot drain out; there is no way for the fluid to go, so it causes an accumulation in various parts of your body. The swelling may cause clothes to feel tighter than usual, or you may observe that shoes fit differently.

However, when do I need medical attention because of these symptoms?

Any of these symptoms should be told to the doctor if they persist for more than a week, let alone a few weeks. Further, any other disease risk factors, including chronic liver disease, hepatitis, or cirrhosis, further the risk of developing liver cancer. Understand that while many of these symptoms are commonly associated with liver cancer, this does not necessarily mean it is; many other diseases may cause this type of symptomatology. It’s, however, advisable to check up and be informed that nothing is wrong than waiting and missing the early stages of a severe problem.

Conclusion:

Refrain from getting confused with other conditions!

Indeed, many of the symptoms of liver cancer are identical to those of other conditions but not as dangerous. For instance, “feeling tired might be due to stress or poor sleep.” Stomach pain might be due to indigestion. However, if the symptoms continue or you have multiple of them together, they must be looked into. It is similar to a mystery, where every symptom is a clue, and your doctor helps fit the pieces together to work out what is happening.

Remember, the human body knows well how to send signals if something is wrong. Learning the sign language your body uses and knowing when to seek medical attention is a huge difference between catching and treating liver cancer before it gets worse. The majority of these symptoms are frightening, but medicine today has many ways to treat liver cancer, especially when it is diagnosed early.

REFERENCE LINKS:

https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/liver-cancer

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353659

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9418-liver-cancer

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver-cancer/symptoms/

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/liver-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/liver-cancer/liver-cancer-symptoms.html

https://www.cancer.gov/types/liver/what-is-liver-cancer