The liver is an organ that helps in both the digestion of food and the elimination of toxic substances from the body. Most cancer that affects the liver comes from someplace else, the Mayo Clinic reports, then metastasizes to the liver. These types of cancer are named for the locations where they began. Liver cancer starts in the liver itself and while it has not been that common in the United States, incidences are rising, the Mayo Clinic states.
Weight Loss
One of the earliest signs of liver cancer is losing weight. This may occur despite how much you eat and whether you are trying to diet or not. It also may occur because of another early sign, which is a loss of appetite. Unintended weight loss does not automatically mean you have liver cancer. There are many other conditions, diseases and medications that can make you lose weight and lose your appetite.
Pain and Nausea
Liver cancer may induce pain in the upper portion of the abdominal region as an early sign of the disease. Again, this may occur for other reasons, too, but if it is persistent, it can be indicative of liver cancer. The disease also may cause you to be sick to your stomach or nauseous often. This feeling of an impending need to vomit may in fact cause you to vomit. If you are not sick with the flu, a cold or some other illness and you are queasy and throw up often, you may have liver cancer. Swelling in your abdomen also may occur with the disease.
Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the more common early signs of many cancers, including cancer of the liver. It means you have an overall and frequent feeling of being exhausted, without even doing any thing that makes you exert yourself. Your whole body may feel uncommonly weak. This type of problem, too, is a sign of many other things including side effects from many medications. If there is no other reason for it, however, and it persists, see your physician.
Jaundice
Almost any problem with the liver can induce a condition called jaundice. This condition occurs because the liver is not working correctly to sort out old blood cells. Jaundice is characterized by a yellow discoloration of the skin and the white portion of the eyes.
