Why do patients with early-stage liver cancer gain weight?
Sep 25, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Dong
Introduction
In general, weight gain in the early stages of liver cancer may be caused by poor diet, medication side effects, excessive stomach acid, jaundice, or enlargement of the liver and spleen. Early-stage liver cancer patients may either gain weight or not; those experiencing weight gain should promptly identify the underlying cause, and under a doctor's guidance, receive appropriate treatment based on symptoms of early liver cancer, rather than making blind assumptions on their own.
In general, weight gain in the early stages of liver cancer may be caused by poor diet, medication side effects, excessive stomach acid, jaundice, or hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen). The specific reasons are as follows:
1. Poor diet: In the early stage of liver cancer, patients may experience emotional distress and anxiety about their illness and future, leading to overeating as a way to relieve stress. Consuming large amounts of preferred foods can result in weight gain. When experiencing emotional disturbances or unhealthy eating habits, patients should promptly adjust their mindset and adopt a more positive attitude toward treatment.
2. Medication side effects: Early-stage liver cancer patients may take certain hormonal or targeted medications—such as compound glycyrrhizin tablets or sorafenib tosylate tablets—as directed by their physicians. These medications may cause weight gain as a side effect. Patients need not worry excessively about this, as it is considered a normal part of the treatment process.
3. Excessive stomach acid: Due to abnormal bile secretion in early-stage liver cancer, patients may develop excess gastric acid, which accelerates food digestion. This increased digestive efficiency, especially when combined with higher food intake, can lead to weight gain. In such cases, patients should actively cooperate with medical treatment and take medications like domperidone tablets or omeprazole enteric-coated capsules to suppress gastric acid and protect the gastric mucosa.
4. Jaundice: Jaundice is a condition characterized by elevated serum bilirubin levels. Patients with mixed jaundice due to liver cell damage may appear overweight. Under medical guidance, such patients can take medications like compound glycyrrhizin capsules or tiopronin tablets for treatment.
5. Hepatosplenomegaly: Enlargement of the liver and spleen caused by early-stage liver cancer may lead to symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite, and a feeling of fullness in the upper right abdomen. These physical changes may give the appearance of obesity. This is a normal symptom of the disease, and patients should receive active treatment under medical supervision.
Early-stage liver cancer patients may or may not experience weight gain. For those who do gain weight, it is important to promptly identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate, symptom-based treatment under a doctor’s guidance, rather than making assumptions or self-diagnosing.
