Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of your liver. Your liver is an organ that sits in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath your diaphragm and above your stomach.
Several types of cancer can form in the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other types of liver cancer, such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that begins in the liver cells. Cancer that begins in another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer or secondary Liver cancer rather than Primary liver cancer.
It is essential to come to this diagnosis before treatment can be started as the treatment for primary and secondary Liver cancer is completely different.
Most of the time cancer in the liver is painless. Some present with jaundice. Some have vague symptoms like loss of weight, loss of appetite, tiredness, fever etc. It is extremely important to be suspicious and get tested at the earliest.