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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Most people don't have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

  • Losing weight without trying
  • Loss of appetite
  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • General weakness and fatigue
  • An enlarged liver
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any signs or symptoms that worry you.

References
  1. Marrero JA, et al. Modern diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinics in Liver Disease. 2009;13:233.
  2. What you need to know about liver cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/liver/allpages/print. Accessed May 13, 2009.
  3. Weber S, et al. Liver and bile duct cancer. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1569.
  4. Hepatobiliary cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/hepatobiliary.pdf. Accessed May 13, 2009.
  5. What is liver cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_liver_cancer_25.asp?sitearea=. Accessed May 27, 2009.
  6. Liver cancer: Questions to ask the doctor. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Liver+Cancer. Accessed May 13, 2009.
  7. Nguyen CT, et al. Hepatitis vaccination and prophylaxis. Clinics in Liver Disease. 2009;13:317.
  8. Hepatitis C. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/hepatitisc/. Accessed May 27, 2009.
  9. Bruix J, et al. AASLD practice guideline: Management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2005;42:1208.

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July 2, 2009

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