Many of the same symptoms occur with most diseases as a result of the body's slowed metabolism and organ function. Other symptoms occur due to the disease itself. End stage liver cancer carries its own set of symptoms based on the destruction of the liver tissue from the cancer.
Disease Specific Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic lists general symptoms of liver cancer as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, abdominal swelling and pain. The liver often enlarges with the presence of cancer. Fluid also spills from the liver that builds up in the abdomen leading to swelling. Swelling also eventually occurs in other parts of the body in end-stage liver cancer. When the liver becomes cancerous, many of the functions of the liver are affected. Jaundice, the yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes, occurs due to blockages of bile from tumors. This commonly occurs in end stage liver cancer. The liver aids in the metabolism of vitamin K, which is necessary for clotting blood. Bleeding also commonly occurs in end stage liver cancer due to the destruction of healthy tissue by cancer. Confusion and altered thought processes sometimes happens because of the buildup of toxins that the once healthy liver filtered out of the body.
General End of Life Symptoms
Several changes in levels of consciousness and mental state occur in the end of life. The website Medical Surgical Nursing attributes these changes to slowing of metabolism and include increased sleeping, confusion and restlessness. At the end of life, patients often slip into a coma-like state of sleep. Different types of breathing occur when a person is dying. The Hospice Foundation of America reports that short periods where patients stop breathing commonly occurs. Breathing patterns might also decrease or increase. Congested sounding breathing, often referred to as the "death rattle," occurs occasionally. Breathing typically becomes more shallow as the end of life nears.
Other End Stage Symptoms
Other changes include loss of bowel and bladder function, refusal of food and water because of lack of appetite, cooling of hands and feet, and discoloration of the skin from lack of circulation. Eventually breathing and circulation stop, causing death.
References
- "Medical Surgical Nursing" Ignatavicius, D. MSN, Workman, L. PhD.; 2002
- Hospice Foundation of American: Signs of Approaching Death
- Mayo Clinic: Liver Cancer Symptoms
