Liver cancer is the growth and spread of unhealthy cells in the liver. Cancer that starts in the liver is primary liver cancer. Cancer that spreads to the liver from another organ is metastatic liver cancer.

Liver cancer is one of the few cancers on the rise in the EU and it is about twice as common in men than in women. Risk factors include liver diseases, mainly cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

When they do occur, they may include fatigue, bloating, pain on the right side of the upper abdomen or back or shoulder, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, fever and jaundice.

Doctors often recommend regular liver cancer screenings for those at increased risk. Liver cancer may be diagnosed by a physical examination, imaging tests, blood tests or a biopsy.

It depends on the condition of the liver; size, location, and number of tumours, eg. if the cancer has spread outside the liver, the person’s age and overall health. Treatment options include a liver transplant, the removal of the tumour from the liver by surgery, cryosurgery (freezing and destroying cancer cells), radio frequency ablation (destroying cancer cells with heat), chemotherapy or radiation, or the use of Sorafenib (Nexavar), an oral medication for advanced cases of primary liver cancer.

If you think you are at risk of liver cancer, regularly see a doctor who specializes in liver disease. Take steps to avoid other types of liver disease. And do whatever you can to avoid obesity, diabetes and alcohol consumption.