A medical expert has shared four symptoms of liver cancer as he warned the “very serious” disease is often detected too late.
January is Love Your Liver awareness month, and with Dry January also in full swing, many of us will be considering the health of one of our most crucial organs. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer across the world and the 16th most common in the UK. Around 6,200 new cases diagnosed each year in this country.
But detecting liver cancer early – which can make treatment more effective – can be challenging. The NHS says the disease “may not have any symptoms, or they might be hard to spot,” but one expert has shared some early warning signs to be aware of. Dr Zain Hasan took to TikTok to explain: “Liver cancer is typically detected by accident, not by intention.
“[This] means that usually either your blood test come[s] up abnormally high or during a routine scan, they find some sort of mass and/or a cyst, and they want to go in and take it out. Usually the work-out process includes biopsies, and the treatment is multifactorial.”
He elaborated on the various treatments patients may undergo for liver cancer, including the removal of all or part of the liver or a newer treatment called sublation which involves burning off the cancerous cells. But how can you identify if you have liver cancer?
Dr Hasan listed four symptoms you may observe as the disease progresses. “Liver cancer is very serious, here is what to look out for,” he captioned the video.
Bloating
Firstly, bloating could be a sign. While bloating can indicate various illnesses, including other types of cancer like ovarian cancer, it can also be a symptom of digestive issues.
Conditions such as constipation, food intolerances, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and coeliac disease can all cause bloating.
Nausea
Secondly, Dr Hasan listed nausea as a potential symptom of cancer. However, the NHS states: “Feeling sick (nausea) is common and usually goes away on its own.”
You should only contact your GP if the nausea persists or keeps recurring. Thirdly, diarrhoea was mentioned by Dr Hasan as a symptom of liver cancer.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can be a symptom of numerous health complaints, many of which are common and should resolve themselves. Similarly to bloating, diarrhoea can be caused by digestive issues including IBS, or more acute illnesses such as seasonal stomach bugs.
However, if it doesn’t go away, it could be a sign of something more sinister. If you have concerns, contact your GP.
Pain
Lastly, abdominal pain was identified as a final symptom of liver cancer. According to the NHS, this pain may be localised in the top right side of the abdomen or in the right shoulder.
The NHS further explained: “The symptoms are the same if the liver cancer starts in the liver (primary liver cancer) or spreads from another part of the body (secondary liver cancer),”.
Additional symptoms, as pointed out by the health service, include jaundice, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, a general feeling of being unwell or experiencing flu-like symptoms, and a lump on the right side of your abdomen.