Why are liver cancer patients prone to leg swelling? Liver cancer leg swelling is mainly caused by these 3 reasons

Liver cancer patients are prone to leg edema during the recovery period, which makes them very frightened and always worried about whether their condition has worsened. In fact, many factors can cause leg edema, so there is no need to worry too much.

Why do liver cancer patients experience leg edema?

1. Nutritional deficiency or hypoproteinemia

When the body does not get enough protein, the fluid in the blood will seep out of the blood vessels and slowly seep into the body tissues, causing swelling of the abdomen and legs. In addition, when the patient has hypoproteinemia, the decrease in the effective osmotic pressure of plasma will cause leg edema.

2. Hepatic edema

The liver function of liver cancer patients has been severely damaged and cannot synthesize albumin better, which causes hypoproteinemia and edema. In addition, a large number of cancer cells compressing local blood vessels can also induce lower limb edema.

3. Suffering from venous thrombosis or lying in bed for a long time

Cancer cells release a large amount of procoagulants, which put the blood in a hypercoagulable state, causing venous thrombosis and obstructing lymphatic return, ultimately leading to leg edema. In addition, liver cancer patients need to lie in bed for a long time to rest, which slows down the local blood circulation, causing blood stasis and inducing leg edema.

How to relieve leg edema caused by infection?

1. Conditioning in life

Usually, the patient can be raised a little, and a soft pillow can be placed under the limbs to promote lymph and blood return and prevent fluid from accumulating in the tissue gap. In addition, elastic stockings can be worn for pressure bandage, which can squeeze the tissue gap and help lymph return. Limit salt intake, and control the daily salt intake to about 3 grams to reduce water and sodium retention in the tissues. If the condition permits, move the limbs more or massage the local area, and supplement albumin appropriately. Use diuretics reasonably under the guidance of a doctor to prevent water and sodium retention.

2. Surgical treatment

If the edema is caused by blood clots in the legs, a filter needs to be placed in the blood vessels through surgery, or drainage can be performed through surgery. If there is obvious pain, you need to go to the hospital for lower limb artery angiography to see if there is arterial thrombosis.

Kind tips

Almost all liver cancer patients will experience leg edema during the recovery process, so you need to deal with it correctly. You should do a good job of preventing infection, choose anti-infection drugs under the guidance of a doctor, and keep your calves and toes dry and clean. If the leg swelling is caused by blood clots, you can choose anticoagulant drugs to eliminate edema, and eat more winter melon and red beans rich in potassium to help urine excretion.