Liver

One of the most obvious effects of liver cancer is jaundice. This is a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes, caused by a buildup of bile in the body. Bile contains a pigment called bilirubin that causes the yellow colour. Jaundice is a sign that the liver is not functioning well, and can’t move the bile to the intestine, where it’s normally eliminated from the body.

Another symptom that may be experienced with liver cancer is ascites. This is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which may be caused by the tumor blocking the normal flow of fluids in the body (such as the lymphatic system). Ascites may accumulate more quickly as liver cancer progresses. It can be uncomfortable and it may cause shortness of breath if there’s pressure on the diaphragm.

People with liver cancer may also have pain from the tumor in the liver. The pain is usually on the right side of the body, where the liver is located. There may be shortness of breath if the cancer has spread from the liver to the lungs. Liver cancer can progress quickly, depending on the type of tumor and whether the cancer has spread to other areas in the body.

Someone with liver cancer may experience symptoms that are common to most cancers generally, which affect energy, strength, appetite, breathing and responsiveness.

When cancer spreads to the liver the metastasis may have direct or indirect effects. This depends on the size and location of the metastatic tumor, and ranges from no visible effects to several serious ones. The person may also experience other symptoms caused by the general effect of cancer on the body.

The liver is a large organ with a fair amount of reserve function. This allows it to keep doing its work even if it contains a tumor. The liver only sends signals of pain when the capsule, the casing around the liver, is stretched. If the tumor in the liver is not big enough to stretch the capsule, or if it’s growing slowly enough for the capsule to adjust, then there likely won’t be pain. For many people who have liver metastases, the most apparent symptoms are the effects of cancer generally on the body.

A tumor may affect a specific area in the liver resulting in more obvious symptoms of the metastasis. If the bile duct is blocked, then bile may build up and a substance in the bile called bilirubin may cause jaundice, which leads to yellow skin and eyes. A build-up of bile can also cause itchiness, drowsiness or confusion. A blocked bile duct can lead to an infection also. There can be pain in part of the liver if the capsule is stretched or if there’s an infection. This pain is usually treated with medication such as opioids.

If there’s a large amount of tumor in the liver, then its overall functioning will likely be affected. The liver may have trouble removing bile, even if there is no blockage. This produces jaundice. There may be swelling in the legs and abdomen. Liver failure occurs if the liver can’t function the way the body needs it to function. Liver failure makes people lose energy, strength and appetite. It can be hard to know how much of this is due to the liver problem specifically and how much is the general effect of cancer on the body.

Medications can help with specific symptoms such as pain, nausea and itchiness. It’s more difficult to treat loss of energy and appetite, which are common in advanced stages of illness.

[JM1]Link to further up the page – Cancer – what happens when someone has cancer.