Liver cancer is a specific type of cancer centered in and around the liver organ. However, it’s important to remember that like any type of cancer it can spread as the condition progresses. The most common risk factor for liver cancer is hepatitis. However, anything which causes liver damage, such as alcohol, is a risk factor.

Given the large number of associated causal factors, it’s important to watch out for symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms of liver cancer:

1. Losing weight without trying

Losing weight is a cause for celebration to most. However, if it comes out of nowhere and for no reason it might suggest a medical issue. Cancer tends to reduce people’s appetite and you may not notice that you’re eating less. The best way to measure is using a weighing scale which can immediately show any changes and can act as a warning sign that something’s wrong.

2. Upper abdominal pain and swelling

Cancer can cause pain as it attacks the liver and surrounding areas. However, there’s a less obvious issue that comes alongside the abdominal pain. Cancer can also cause swelling as it grows. As tissue swells it can come into contact with other organs and symptoms that the body just isn’t happy with. Internal organs will sometimes react as they’re pressed against each other. This can prove to be quite painful. What’s more, it can also cause nausea if tissue swells against the stomach.

3. General fatigue

Cancer takes a toll on the body. It’s quite literally eating up resources intended for normal cells. And on top of that, the body’s own defenses are constantly trying to fight the cancer while healing all the damage it’s causing. Toss in the associated dietary problems and it’s not hard to see why people with early stage liver cancer might feel tired.

4. Jaundice

Jaundice is a symptom associated with yellowing of the skin and white’s of one’s eyes. It’s caused by an overabundance of yellow bilirubin. This substance is normally processed by the liver. But anything which damages the liver can also cause this process to slow down. The end effect is a yellowish tinge that can vary in severity. In some cases the yellowing might only produce a subtle tint to the white’s of one’s eyes. In other cases a person’s skin might be noticeably yellow.

5. White or chalky stools

Bile issues aren’t limited to turning someone’s skin yellow. It can also produce stool that’s white or chalky. While unpleasant, this is one of the easiest signs to notice. What’s more, it’s almost exclusively seen with liver related issues. This fact can help alert people to the importance of medical help. While anything related to the liver can cause white stools, it has a higher chance of being cancer than almost anything else. The main reason is simply due to the speed of onset. Stool changes will typically occur slowly with most forms of liver damage. But cancer grows so quickly that it often changes stool color or consistency in a short amount of time.

6. Nausea and vomiting

People are often surprised to find that cancer is associated with nausea. This can come about in a number of different ways. Earlier we noted that cancer can cause swelling. If tissue swells enough to directly push into the stomach then people will usually feel nausea. People can also experience it when their body’s not able to properly compensate for the diminished capability brought on by cancer.