Liver cancer
What is Liver cancer?
Liver cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of your liver. The liver is a large organ that sits in the upper right side of your belly. It filters your blood, makes proteins, and helps digest food.
Most liver cancers develop after years of chronic liver damage. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are two of the leading causes worldwide. These viral infections cause ongoing inflammation that can eventually turn healthy liver cells into cancer cells.
There are different types of liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form. It starts in the main liver cells called hepatocytes. Early detection matters because treatment options work best when cancer is found in its early stages.
Symptoms
- Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of your belly
- Swelling or bloating in your abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Feeling very tired or weak most days
- Yellowing of your skin or eyes, called jaundice
- Nausea or vomiting that doesn't go away
- Pale or chalky colored stools
- Dark urine that looks like tea
- Fever that comes and goes
- Itchy skin without a rash
Many people with early liver cancer have no symptoms at all. This is why screening is so important if you have risk factors like chronic hepatitis.
Concerned about Liver cancer? Check your levels.
Screen for 1,200+ health conditions
Causes and risk factors
Chronic viral hepatitis infections are the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C both cause long-term inflammation in your liver. Over many years, this inflammation damages liver cells and increases cancer risk. Cirrhosis, which is severe scarring of the liver, also raises your risk significantly. Heavy alcohol use over many years can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Other risk factors include fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and exposure to aflatoxins in contaminated foods. Certain genetic liver diseases like hemochromatosis can also increase risk. Men develop liver cancer more often than women. Your risk increases with age, especially after 60 years old.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors use several tools to diagnose liver cancer. Blood tests check for hepatitis infections and liver function markers. Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI scans show tumors in your liver. A biopsy, where a tiny piece of liver tissue is removed and examined, confirms the diagnosis in some cases.
Regular screening helps catch liver cancer early if you have risk factors. Rite Aid offers hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing as part of your preventive health screening. Finding chronic hepatitis early lets you take steps to protect your liver and monitor for cancer development.
Treatment options
- Surgery to remove the tumor or a damaged portion of your liver
- Liver transplant surgery in select cases when cancer is caught early
- Ablation procedures that use heat, cold, or alcohol to destroy cancer cells
- Embolization that blocks blood flow to tumors
- Radiation therapy to target cancer cells with high-energy beams
- Targeted drug therapies that attack specific cancer cell features
- Immunotherapy medications that help your immune system fight cancer
- Treating underlying hepatitis with antiviral medications to slow liver damage
- Avoiding alcohol completely to protect remaining liver function
- Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein
Need testing for Liver cancer? Add it to your panel.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Early liver cancer often causes no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they may include pain in your upper right belly, unexplained weight loss, and feeling very tired. Yellowing skin or eyes and loss of appetite are also warning signs. If you have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, regular screening is important even without symptoms.
Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections cause ongoing inflammation in your liver. This inflammation damages liver cells over many years. Damaged cells can develop DNA changes that cause them to grow out of control and become cancer. People with chronic hepatitis have a much higher risk of developing liver cancer than the general population.
You can reduce your risk by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B. Avoid sharing needles or engaging in unprotected sex to prevent hepatitis C. Limit alcohol consumption and maintain a healthy weight to prevent cirrhosis. Regular screening if you have chronic hepatitis helps catch cancer early when treatment works best.
Blood tests for hepatitis B and hepatitis C antibodies show if you have chronic infections. The Hepatitis Be Antigen test indicates active hepatitis B infection. Liver function tests check how well your liver is working. Alpha-fetoprotein blood tests may be elevated in some liver cancers, though not all cases show this marker.
People with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C need regular screening. Those with cirrhosis from any cause should also be monitored closely. If you have a family history of liver cancer or fatty liver disease, talk to your doctor about screening. Most screening programs start around age 40 for high-risk individuals.
Yes, early-stage liver cancer can often be cured with surgery or liver transplant. Small tumors may be removed or destroyed with ablation procedures. Five-year survival rates are much higher when cancer is found before it spreads. This is why screening matters so much for people with hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Avoid alcohol completely if you have liver disease. Maintain a healthy weight through balanced eating and regular physical activity. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid foods that might contain aflatoxins, especially improperly stored grains and nuts.
If you have chronic hepatitis B or C, your doctor will likely recommend screening every 6 months. This usually includes an ultrasound of your liver and blood tests. More frequent monitoring may be needed if you have cirrhosis or other risk factors. Regular testing helps catch any changes early when treatment is most effective.
Fatty liver disease causes fat buildup in your liver cells. Over time, this can lead to inflammation and scarring called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis significantly increases your risk of developing liver cancer. Losing weight, exercising regularly, and managing diabetes can help reverse fatty liver before it causes serious damage.
Yes, you can develop liver cancer without hepatitis infections. Heavy alcohol use, fatty liver disease, and certain genetic conditions also increase risk. Exposure to aflatoxins in moldy foods can cause liver cancer. However, hepatitis B and C remain the most common causes worldwide, which is why screening for these viruses is so important.