Signs of Liver Cancer
Cancer of the liver can move slowly and go undetected for quite a while. After all, your liver is such a regenerative and resilient organ, it can continue to function just enough to keep you going even when there is serious damage and disease at play.
Secondary liver cancer is more prevalent than primary liver cancer; the term refers to cancer that originates somewhere else in the body and moves to the liver (metastasizes), where it continues to grow. Once liver cancer symptoms begin to materialize, they normally indicate a later stage cancer, but there is a chance to catch the disease early – and hopefully slow or stop the progression – if you spot any of these suspicious signs.
1. Weight Loss
One common early symptom of liver cancer is unexplained weight loss, affecting up to 40% of cancer patients at the time of diagnosis. If you’ve been eating regularly but your level activity or level of stress hasn’t increased, the falling number on the scale could point to a serious underlying problem.
Often, this initial weight loss is linked to changes in appetite or periodic nausea (two other early cancer symptoms), but the cancer could also be causing changes in your metabolism, leading your body to burn through its calories quickly. When weight loss comes with other changes or new discomforts, it’s time to see a doctor.
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