Liver cancer is cancer that originates in the cells of the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the liver’s cells (or hepatocytes). By detecting the early warning signs of liver cancer, patients have a much better chance for a successful treatment plan. Liver cancer may be caused by a number of issues related to certain lifestyle choices, genetics, and environmental risk factors. That’s why it’s important to know the early warning signs of liver cancer, such as:

1. Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting, are two signs related to something in your body reacting to another. Usually the reason for this is due to dehydration or some kind of problem from infection that the body is fighting off.

2. General fatigue
General fatigue is another symptom caused by liver cancer. Sometimes it’s hard to notice until the patient is already diagnosed with liver cancer and will never show the signs until it’s too late. But if you are feeling the symptoms of extreme fatigue, bring yourself into a doctor and get checked out.

3. White or chalky stools
White or chalky stools are a definite red flag to see a doctor. This is a clear sign that your body’s internal workings are not up to par. Bile is released from the liver as an acid to help break down food in digestion, giving the brownish color to stools from the bile. When your liver isn’t working properly this could cause less bile to be released, making your stool more pale, appearing white in color.

4. Upper abdominal pain and swelling
Upper abdominal pain and swelling, could be early warning signs of liver cancer. In the upper right abdomen, tucked under the right lung is where the liver is located. Swelling and pain around this area could be due from inflammation or the buildup of fluids. Some people also experience pain coming from the right shoulder blade as well.

5. Losing weight without trying
Losing weight without trying is another one of the signs to detecting early liver cancer. Lots of patients feel full or bloated after eating small meals and some not having an appetite at all. The official name for this is actually called Cachexia which means wasting. Most of the patients experience extreme weight loss in fat and muscle mass, causing the treatment to not be as effective.

6. Jaundice
Jaundice is a medical condition caused by the buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Symptoms from this include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. When the liver isn’t working properly it will not produce enough red blood cells to replenish the old ones, causing the yellow color to come from the buildup of bilirubin in the bloodstream.

Liver cancer treatments are most successful when the cancer is detected in the early stages. Hepatic cancer treatments (or HCC liver cancer treatments) may  include surgery, radiation, transplant, chemotherapy or removal of part of the liver. This depends on what stage and severity the state of cancer is in and how it has affected the liver.