As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, such as: yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) swelling in your abdomen caused by a build-up of fluid known as ascites.
Blood tests used to assess the liver are known as liver function tests. But liver function tests can be normal at many stages of liver disease. Blood tests can also detect if you have low levels of certain substances, such as a protein called serum albumin, which is made by the liver.
When signs and symptoms do appear, they may include unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, general weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, jaundice where your eyes and skin turn yellow, and white, chalky stools.
Stage 1: Inflammation
In the early stages of liver disease, the liver will become swollen or inflamed as the body's natural response to injury. Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, can also occur when there are more toxins in the blood than the liver is able to manage. The earlier the diagnosis, the better.
The liver damage associated with mild alcoholic hepatitis is usually reversible if you stop drinking permanently. Severe alcoholic hepatitis, however, is a serious and life-threatening illness.
In general, only early-stage liver cancer can be cured. Doctors use diagnostic tests to find out the cancer's stage, so staging may not be complete until all of the tests are finished. Knowing the stage helps the doctor recommend the best kind of treatment and may help predict a patient's prognosis.
Some of the tests and procedures used to diagnose liver cancer, such as CT scan and MRI, may be used in the staging process. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan may also be used: PET scan: This procedure is used to find malignant tumor cells in the body.
Stage 1 liver cancer is divided into stage 1A and stage 1B. Stage 1A means there is a single tumour in the liver that is 2cm or less, and it has not grown into the blood vessels. Stage 1B means there is a single tumour that is more than 2cm, and it has not grown into the blood vessels.
So what does liver pain feel like? It manifests in different ways, but a common form is a dull throbbing. For some people, it occurs as a sharp, stabbing pain. Sometimes the pain migrates to other nearby areas, such as the right shoulder blade and the back.
Nausea. Vomiting. A general sense of feeling unwell (malaise) Disorientation or confusion.
Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
There are at-home liver panel tests that can determine liver function by screening for proteins and enzymes like albumin, globulin, ALP, ALT, and GGT. These tests use a finger-prick sample and include materials to collect and send your specimen to the lab. You can order a liver panel from home and get tested in a lab.
A group of blood tests called liver function tests can be used to diagnose liver disease. Other blood tests can be done to look for specific liver problems or genetic conditions. Imaging tests. An ultrasound, CT scan and MRI can show liver damage.
Alpha-fetoprotein blood (AFP) test
AFP is a protein that can be found in high levels in adults with liver disease, liver cancer, who are pregnant, or other cancers. If AFP levels are very high in someone with a liver tumor, it can be a sign that liver cancer is present.
Liver cancer pain is commonly focused on the top right of the abdominal area, near the right shoulder blade. The pain can sometimes extend into the back. It can also be felt in the lower right portion of the rib cage. The pain might be accompanied by swelling in the abdomen and in the legs and ankles.
Primary liver cancers are tumors that develop directly from liver tissue. Secondary, or metastatic, liver cancers are tumors that start in another part of the body, such as the colon, then spread to the liver.
Liver cancer is a life-threatening illness and one of the fastest-growing cancer types in the United States.
Survival for all stages of liver cancer
almost 40 out of 100 people (almost 40%) will survive their cancer for 1 year or more after diagnosis. almost 15 in 100 people (almost 15%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
Chronic HCV infection is the leading cause of liver cancer in North America, Europe, and Japan. Cirrhosis: The risk of developing liver cancer is increased for people who have cirrhosis, a disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.
Experimental studies and clinical observations have shown that stress can damage hepatic tissue both directly and indirectly. Many studies have partially revealed the contributors of stress‐induced liver injury; however, the whole process has not yet been uncovered.
The liver is part of the body's natural detoxification system, which helps filter out toxins. Foods that support liver health include berries, cruciferous vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and fatty fish. Coffee and green tea contain antioxidants that are helpful for liver health.
Long-term intake of more than 30 g of absolute alcohol per day increases the risk of alcoholic liver disease; liver disease is nearly certain in long-term consumption in excess of 80 g of absolute alcohol per day.