Liver cancer is a serious disease responsible for thousands of deaths each year. About 16 people die every day from this condition, making it one of the deadliest cancers. Primary liver cancer originates in the liver, while secondary liver cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of liver cancer can appear during meals. Photo: Archive
If the disease is detected in time, there is a chance that it can be cured by surgery or transplantation. But according to NHS Inform data, most patients are diagnosed quite late, at an advanced stage.
Although early detection of liver cancer is essential, it is often difficult to diagnose in the early stages, as symptoms are vague or absent. However, Dr. Joseph Ambani has identified certain signs that can appear from the early stages of the disease, manifesting even during meals.
He stated: “In general, people with liver cancer may experience a decrease in appetite or difficulty eating as much as before due to abdominal discomfort. In addition, patients may experience abdominal pain and discomfort even after consuming small amounts of food.”
Our appetite can be an important indicator of our health. Significant changes in this sense, such as unexplained loss of appetite, should alert us, especially in the context of the risk of liver cancer, a disease that often develops asymptomatically.
Dr. Ambani identified a number of early symptoms of liver cancer such as: abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice, swelling of the abdomen due to fluid accumulation, difficulty breathing, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Primary liver cancer that occurs in the liver may have the following symptoms: sudden weight loss, nausea, itching, jaundice, abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, shoulder pain, and loss of appetite. At the same time, doctors note that the symptoms of liver cancer can vary significantly from person to person and are often unclear, making early diagnosis difficult. For example, itching, a symptom associated with jaundice, and fatigue and loss of appetite are common but can also be seen in other conditions.
Most cases of liver cancer are associated with cirrhosis, a serious liver condition. That is why it is very important to consult a doctor if you suspect that you have symptoms of this disease. Cirrhosis, a serious liver condition, can be triggered by a multitude of factors. Among the most common are chronic and excessive alcohol consumption, persistent infections with hepatitis B or C viruses, and metabolic conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, often associated with an unbalanced diet and obesity. Over time, these can lead to scarring of the liver and, in some cases, the development of liver cancer.
To reduce the risk of serious liver disease, health professionals recommend a comprehensive approach that includes: moderate alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes a day, several times a week), maintaining a healthy body weight and vaccination against hepatitis B. It is also important to avoid contact with infected blood and to protect intimate relationships, to prevent infections with hepatitis B and C viruses.
