What is it?

The largest internal organ of the body, the liver is responsible for filtering harmful substances from the body for it to pass in urine or stools, producing bile to help the body digest fats and storing sugar as the body’s energy supply. Liver cancer occurs when cancerous cells grow in this organ.

Causes, Symptoms & Risk Factors

The causes of liver cancer are unknown. It usually affects people over the age of 60. The following are risk factors for liver cancer:

• Chronic hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C
• Family history of hepatitis and liver cancer
• Liver disease, such as cirrhosis
• Eating foods that have aflatoxin, a fungal substance that grows on nuts and grains
• Tobacco use
• Use of anabolic steroids

The early stages of liver cancer may produce no symptoms. As the cancer develops, symptoms may be caused by a swelling of or growth in the liver. Common symptoms of liver cancer include:

• Development of a lump on the right of the body
• Abdominal discomfort
• Pain near the right shoulder blade
• Appetite loss
• Nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Jaundice
• Exhaustion