Symptoms
In the early stages of liver cancer, most people will not have any signs or symptoms. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience:
Loss of appetite
Unintended weight loss
Pain in the upper abdomen
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness and fatigue
Abdominal swelling
Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
White, chalky stools
Causes
While some cases of liver cancer can't be linked to any cause, there are known factors that can increase the risk of developing the disease:
Chronic infections with hepatitis B or C
Cirrhosis
Certain inherited liver disease, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease
Diabetes
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Excessive alcohol consumption
Tests
Several tests may be performed to confirm a liver cancer diagnosis including:
Blood tests
Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT and MRI
Liver tissue biopsy
