Liver Cancer Awareness Month

What is liver cancer?

Liver cancer is the 18th most common cancer in the UK and it affects more men than women. Nine in every ten liver cancers occur in people over the age of 60.

Primary liver cancer is when the cancer begins in the liver. The two main types are:

• hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
• cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)

Secondary liver cancer (also known as metastatic liver cancer) starts in other organs then spreads to the liver, usually though the bloodstream.

Our information is about hepatocellular carcinoma which is a type of primary liver cancer.

What are the most common symptoms of liver cancer?

Symptoms include:

• Discomfort or pain in the upper part of the abdomen (belly). This might also be felt as pain in the right shoulder blade.
• Feeling sick or generally unwell.
• Loss of appetite or feeling full.
• Abdominal (belly) swelling might happen if the liver is enlarged. A hard lump in the upper part of the abdomen (belly) or under the rib cage on the right-hand side.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, these need more urgent medical attention:

• Jaundice, which is a yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin. Jaundice might not be as obvious in people with darker skin pigmentation. Jaundice can also cause itching, dark urine and pale poo.
• Swelling of the abdomen (belly) or ankles caused by build-up of fluid. This fluid build-up is called ascites.
• Vomiting blood (being sick) or passing black, tarry, sticky poo that smells bad.

Can liver cancer be treated?

There are several treatments that are used to reduce the size of liver cancer. However, cancers within the liver can be difficult to cure as many people are diagnosed alongside long-term problems, such as cirrhosis. The outlook for secondary liver cancer often depends on how well the initial cancer is being controlled.

Why is it important to raise awareness of liver cancer?

Liver cancer is one of the more underfunded and misunderstood cancers, along with other cancers of the digestive system, like stomach and oesophageal cancer. Guts UK exists to change that. We’re funding research that aims to diagnose these cancers earlier, develop kinder treatments, and ultimately, find a cure. Your donations make this possible. Your support allows us to put expert information in the hands of those who need it, and empower people to seek help sooner.

Kay’s liver cancer story

“We had all expected the upsetting news. What we didn’t expect was to be told that mum’s cancer was terminal, there was nothing they could do.

We asked how long we’d have with mum. We were told a month at best. We’d barely even got our head around the fact she had cancer, so to be told she had weeks to live was an awful shock.

Mum died just 5 days later at 64 years old, surrounded by the whole family. She was still chatting away right until the end. Mum was the best at making us all smile, even at the hardest of times.”

– Hayley, Kay’s daughter, shared her mum’s story with us.

Does Guts UK fund any research into liver cancer?

Guts UK Charity is proud to fund Dr Daniel Patten (pictured above) at the University of Birmingham.

He is exploring whether it’s possible to improve liver cancer treatment by reprogramming the cells of blood vessels within liver tumours.

Dr Patten told us:

“This research funded by Guts UK Charity is focusing on the cells lining blood vessels within liver tumours. We suspect these cells might contribute to cancer growth and spread ‘through the blood’. If this is the case, we aim to explore how we might be able to block this process. We hope that this might yield a potential new treatment for liver cancer.”

Where can I find more information on liver cancer?

Our patient information section is home to our expert, evidence-based information on liver cancer.

Our friends, Liver Cancer UK, who are part of The British Liver Trust, are also a fantastic source of information and support.

How can I help?

You can help us raise vital awareness of liver cancer by:

• Following us on social media and sharing our awareness and information posts during Liver Cancer Awareness Month itself. You never know who we might reach and help together. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X.
• Sharing your own experience with liver cancer, or the experiences of a loved one, to help people understand more about the condition. You can share amongst your own networks or on your own social media channels. If you want to share your experiences with us, please register your interest here. We are always on the lookout for personal stories to help us raise awareness and help to reassure others they are not alone.
• Fundraising for Guts UK Charity to help us abolish the taboos surrounding digestive health, and get to grips with guts. You can fund life-changing research, and empower people to seek help sooner.