What are the symptoms of late-stage liver cancer?

Jun 28, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

My uncle was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer. What are the symptoms of late-stage liver cancer?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The main symptoms of late-stage liver cancer include the following aspects: 1. Obvious pain: Patients with late-stage liver cancer often experience pain in the liver area, which can be persistent or intermittent, and may radiate to the shoulder or back. 2. Metabolic abnormalities and bleeding: Patients may develop metabolic abnormalities such as hypoglycemia and hypercalcemia, as well as bleeding caused by impaired coagulation function, such as gum bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding. 3. Damage to vital organs: Cancer cells may spread to other organs, leading to dysfunction of the digestive system, jaundice, and, in severe cases, organ failure. 4. Cachexia due to nutritional depletion: Patients may develop a cachectic state characterized by weight loss, edema, and anemia, due to the high nutritional demands of the cancer cells. 5. Other symptoms: These include loss of appetite, fever, and ascites, which may be caused by impaired liver function or tumor compression. Patients with late-stage liver cancer typically have a short survival time and require timely medical attention and comprehensive treatment.