Liver cancer begins, as its name suggests, in your liver cells. There are different types of cancer that can form in your liver, but it is more common to see cancer spreading to the liver instead of cancer beginning in the liver cells. However, liver cancer still exists, and in this blog, we will explore the signs and symptoms that you should be aware of.

The Signs and Symptoms

The early stages are usually symptom-free, but some do experience mild symptoms that could be brushed off as minor flu or other minor conditions. As the cancer progresses, the signs and symptoms to be cautious of include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue or weakness
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
• Appetite loss
• Weight loss (usually unexplained)
• Swelling of abdomen
• Chalky/white stool
• Pain in the abdominal area (especially at the top right, by the shoulder blade or back)

If you are familiar with any of the above, it is crucial that you speak with a medical professional as soon as possible in order to receive a diagnosis.

Diagnosis

To diagnose liver cancer, you can expect to undergo a range of tests and procedures, such as:

• Blood tests
• Biopsies (removing a liver tissue sample)
• Imaging tests (ultrasound scans, CT scans, MRI scans)

There might be further tests to determine the stage of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment 

Treating liver cancer can involve a number of methods, depending on the stage of the cancer and your preferences. This can include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Drug therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Palliative care
• Radiation therapy

At Lumina Interventional Radiology, we offer interventional radiology ablation to treat small liver tumours, destroying the tumour cells using microwave energy, radiofrequency energy, or cryoablation (accompanied by imaging technology (CT or ultrasound scans)). This is a minimally invasive and effective procedure that is ideal for those looking for fast recovery times.

If you believe that you might have liver cancer, we encourage you to speak to your doctor as soon as possible. After speaking with your oncologist to see whether interventional radiology ablation is suitable for you, Lumina Interventional Radiology and our thermal ablation services are on hand to help eliminate any liver tumours. Please get in touch to learn more.