Early symptoms and precursors of liver cancer

The early symptoms and signs of liver cancer are usually not obvious, but there are some warning signs that you should pay attention to. Knowing these warning signs can help you detect and treat them early, thereby improving your quality of life.

1. Long-term history of liver disease: Many liver cancer patients have a long-term background of hepatitis or cirrhosis. If you have such diseases, regular physical examinations are particularly important. Hepatitis and cirrhosis can cause liver tissue damage and increase the risk of liver cancer. Regular liver function tests and imaging tests can help detect abnormalities early.

2. Drinking habits: Long-term excessive drinking is also a risk factor for liver cancer. Alcohol damage to the liver is irreversible and can easily lead to cirrhosis, which in turn increases the incidence of liver cancer. If you have a drinking habit, controlling your drinking or quitting drinking is an important measure to reduce the risk.

3. Changes in appetite and digestive problems: Early signs of liver cancer may include loss of appetite, aversion to oil, and other digestive problems. These symptoms are often ignored because they may be similar to other gastrointestinal diseases. If these symptoms persist, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

4. Weight loss and fatigue: Unexplained weight loss and persistent fatigue may be warning signs of liver cancer. Impaired liver function can affect metabolism, leading to insufficient energy and weight loss. These symptoms are often manifestations of cancer progression and need to be taken seriously.

5. Abdominal discomfort and swelling: Ascites and lower limb edema may be caused by portal hypertension caused by liver cancer. Abdominal discomfort or swelling may be accompanied by pain or pressure, which usually means that the disease has progressed and requires immediate medical attention.

6. Bleeding tendency: Liver cancer may cause gastric bleeding and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This is because liver function is damaged, which affects blood coagulation function and makes it difficult to stop bleeding. If symptoms such as vomiting blood or black stools occur, you need to seek medical attention in time.

To reduce the risk of liver cancer, it is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, moderate exercise, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and regular medical checkups. Understanding one's own health status, actively managing chronic liver disease, and having regular liver examinations are all important measures to prevent liver cancer. Through these methods, we can better protect ourselves and detect and respond to the potential threat of liver cancer early.