Liver cancer is not detected by blood tests alone. Certain substances present in the blood called the blood markers may be elevated in patients with liver cancer. Raised levels of a tumor marker called alpha fetoprotein (AFP) can indicate diseases of the liver, including liver cancer. Read more: Can Liver Cancer Be Detected by a Blood Test? Article
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Skin Cancer Symptoms, Types, Images See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
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Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
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Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is cancer of the liver cells (hepatocellular carcinoma) or of the ducts in the liver (cholangiocarcinoma). Liver cancer often arises due to liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring) caused by alcohol use/abuse, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Liver cancer may not cause any symptoms. Liver cancer is diagnosed with blood tests, imaging tests, and a liver biopsy. Treatment for liver cancer may include surgery, ablation, embolization, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
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What Does Pain From Liver Cancer Feel Like?
Liver cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its initial stages. When the cancer begins to show its signs and symptoms, you may feel pain in the abdomen, particularly at the top right.
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Pain From Liver Cancer
Patients suffering from liver cancer usually complain of a throbbing or stabbing sensation in the upper right side of the abdomen or the back of the shoulder. There may or may not be a swelling that doesn’t subside. The pain may be severe; it is graded 7/10 in intensity. Some patients may not have any symptoms in the early stages of liver cancer.
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How Is Liver Cancer Usually Diagnosed?
The liver is the second largest organ (the first being the skin) in the human body. One blood test used to help diagnose liver cancer is the tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), but it is not specific to liver cancer.
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How Can You Detect Liver Cancer Early?
It is often hard to detect liver cancer at early stages because they do not present any symptoms until they are advanced. Small liver tumors are difficult to identify during a physical examination because most of the liver is covered by the rib cage.
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What Is the Main Cause of Liver Cancer?
The exact cause of liver cancer is not known. Researchers have revealed that liver cancer occurs when the cells in the liver grow uncontrollably because of an abnormal change in their genetic material (mutation).
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Where Is the Pain With Liver Cancer?
A patient with liver cancer usually complains of pain in the right abdomen, lower back or shoulder. They complain of throbbing or stabbing pain that does not subside. Usually, the patient also has pain in the right side of the abdomen. Pain may be severe at 7/10 in intensity. Pain and other symptoms only develop in the later stages.
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How Do You Get Liver Cancer?
The exact reason why you might get liver cancer is unknown. Chronic liver disease is often associated with primary liver cancer (cancer that starts in the liver).
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Is There Pain With Liver Cancer?
Yes, there is pain with liver cancer, but it usually does not appear in the early stages. A tumor that is large enough to press on the nearby structures or spread to the adjoining organs can cause pain. You will experience pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, in the right shoulder blade, or the back. The pain may be dull, throbbing, or stabbing in nature.
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What Are the Symptoms of Stage I Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer, hepatic cancer or hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is a cancer that begins in the liver. Normal liver cells become abnormal in appearance and behavior and grow out of control.
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