Tenderness in the upper abdomen or loss of appetite: two liver cancer symptoms. You can find out how to reduce your risk and which symptoms you should see a doctor for here.
- In Germany, an average of around 8,790 people develop liver cancer each year, also known as liver carcinoma. But the number is increasing: In the last 35 years, the number of new cases has doubled in both men and women.
- The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery. You should therefore have the following symptoms checked by a doctor immediately.
- A certain risk group in particular has an enormously increased risk of liver cancer, which is why they should go regularly for early detection.
Loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain and weakness can have many causes – for example one gastric mucosal inflammation. But serious diseases such as liver cancer can also be behind it. The following symptoms occur in the advanced stage of the disease and should be clarified immediately by a doctor:
- Pressure pain in the upper abdomen
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- increased body temperature of unknown cause
- unwanted weight loss
- weakness
- a palpable swelling under the right costal arch
increasing yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and itching
Liver cancer or HCC, as the type of cancer is also known, usually causes no symptoms at the beginning. Symptoms only appear when the cancer spreads. But as the disease progresses, the chance of to treat cancer successfully. You should therefore be aware of the following preventive measures.
Preventing liver cancer: How to reduce your risk
Liver cancer almost always develops as a result of existing cirrhosis of the liver – a scarred transformation of the liver tissue that occurs as a result of several years of liver damage and liver inflammation (Hepatitis) can occur. The result of liver cirrhosis: the death of liver cells. As the German Cancer Society further reportedonly around 20 percent of all liver cancer patients were not diagnosed with previous liver cirrhosis.
The following causes are often behind the development of liver cancer:
- alcohol abuse
- chronic viral infections (with hepatitis C or hepatitis B viruses)
- a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (as a result of severe obesity and Diabetes Typ 2)
- an unbalanced diet high in unhealthy fat and sugar
The following risk groups should regularly go to liver cancer screening
In particular, people with existing liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis should have regular screening tests, as recommended by the German Cancer Society. It is an ultrasound examination of the liver (liver sonography), in which the liver, gallbladder and bile duct are examined.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.