Otis Brawley, former director of the American Cancer Society, said liver cancer was a relatively rare disease in the past. However, since 1990, the incidence of this disease has doubled and has increased rapidly in recent years. This monstrous disease often has no obvious symptoms until the disease develops into a later stage. So regular checkups can be the key to extending your life.
“If someone goes for regular screenings and shows signs of cancer, we can cure it,” says Ghassan Abou-Alfa, an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the US. But by the time they have specific symptoms, the disease may be well advanced and have spread beyond the liver.”
Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa also points out 5 silent signs of liver cancer, which if detected early can save your life:
1. Abdominal pain and unusual swelling
Dr. Brawley says most people with liver cancer experience right upper abdominal pain. In addition, an enlarged abdomen is one of the most typical signs of liver cancer that people should be aware of.
“If I see a patient with liver cancer but no symptoms, I will press on their liver and they will feel a lot of pain,” said Dr. Brawley.
However, he also said that pain in that area isn’t actually necessarily a sign of liver cancer — it could also be caused by a hepatitis infection or problems with the gallbladder or pancreas. Therefore, patients should check and observe the abdomen regularly and get to the hospital quickly for the most accurate diagnosis of the cause.
2. Loss of appetite and unusual weight loss
According to Dr. Brawley, weight loss and lack of appetite are common symptoms of many different diseases. However, if this phenomenon occurs abnormally and persists, you should consult a doctor immediately, as it is most likely a sign that liver cancer is knocking at the door. When liver cancer is present in the body, it will impair liver function, cause liver damage and affect the digestive system, reducing its ability to absorb nutrients.
Therefore, if you have typical signs of digestive disorders such as loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause.
3. Feel full quickly while eating
Abou-Alfa, excess fluid in the abdomen can make you feel full faster than usual. Cancer always causes you to lose your appetite and indigestion problems like belching or nausea are also common. However, the doctor also said that this is also a symptom of many other non-cancerous conditions, so it is necessary to visit the doctor regularly or get checked as soon as you feel something is wrong with your body.
4. Eyes or skin turn yellow
Dr. Abou-Alfa said jaundice symptoms on the body could be a sign of liver cancer. “If you’re itchy and have jaundice, that’s not a sign to be taken lightly. Jaundice is also a symptom of other cancers, including pancreatic and gallbladder cancer,” he said. It can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions such as viral infections (such as hepatitis A), alcohol consumption or other conditions.”
5. Have had hepatitis C, hepatitis B before
Dr. Abou-Alfa said people with a history of hepatitis C can develop liver cancer 10 years after diagnosis and that prompt treatment of hepatitis C can help prevent cancer. In addition, the doctor also pointed out that a person infected with the hepatitis B virus or not vaccinated against hepatitis B can also increase the risk of cancer.
“Everyone with hepatitis should be checked by a doctor in some way. Others should have an ultrasound to screen for cancer at least once a year,” says Dr Abou-Alfa.
Source Thehealthy.com
