What is liver cancer?
Liver cancer refers to the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the liver. It falls into two categories: primary liver cancer originating in liver tissue, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, and secondary cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body.
What are the causes?
- Chronic hepatitis B or C infection.
- Liver scarring from cirrhosis.
- Fatty liver disease.
- Aflatoxin exposure.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Diabetes and obesity.
- Family history.
What are the symptoms?
Early stages typically present no signs. As the disease advances, patients may experience:
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite.
- Fatigue.
- Abdominal pain or swelling, especially in the upper right.
- Jaundice.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Dark urine and pale stools.
How is it diagnosed?
- Medical history review and physical examination.
- Blood tests for liver function and alpha-fetoprotein.
- Imaging — ultrasound, CT and MRI.
- Tissue biopsy where the imaging is not conclusive.
What are the treatment options?
- Surgical resection or transplantation.
- Ablation: destroying the tumour with heat or cold.
- Targeted drug therapy.
- Immunotherapy.
- Chemoembolisation.
- Radiation therapy.
- Palliative care for advanced disease.
Treatment depends as much on how well the remaining liver works as on the tumour itself. Early detection substantially improves outcomes, particularly when surgery or transplant becomes viable.
Can liver cancer be prevented?
- Hepatitis B vaccination.
- Hepatitis C screening.
- Limiting alcohol.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Proper food storage to avoid aflatoxin.
- Regular check-ups for those at known risk.
More on the liver
Related conditions handled by the same team.
This page is general information about a condition we treat. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an in-person consultation. Bring your reports — they change the answer more than the symptoms do.