Can early-stage liver cancer cause weight loss?
May 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jin Zhongkui
Introduction
Early-stage liver cancer often leads to weight loss. The detailed analysis is as follows: The liver is the most important metabolic organ in the human body, responsible for synthesizing, breaking down, and storing various substances such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. In early-stage liver cancer, the presence of tumors may impair liver function, thereby reducing the body's metabolic capacity.
Weight loss is commonly seen in the early stages of liver cancer. The specific analysis is as follows:
The liver is the most important metabolic organ in the human body, responsible for synthesizing, breaking down, and storing various substances such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. In the early stage of liver cancer, the presence of a tumor may impair liver function, leading to reduced metabolic capacity and consequently causing weight loss. Additionally, early liver cancer is often accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. These may be related to the toxic effects of the tumor itself or due to the tumor's location and size exerting pressure on and disrupting the digestive system, resulting in local symptoms. This affects food intake and nutrient absorption, depriving the body of sufficient nutrition and further contributing to weight loss. Other accompanying symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, and anemia.
During the course of the illness, it is important to enhance nutritional support by appropriately consuming high-protein and high-vitamin foods, such as eggs and lean meat, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
