A cancer specialist is urging the public not to ignore an unusual pain in their right shoulder which could signal early-stage liver cancer. This discomfort can be intermittent but typically affects only the shoulder, while the arm remains unaffected.
It’s easy to attribute this symptom to exercise, muscle strain or poor posture. But Dr Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist and medical director at the Proton Therapy Center in Prague, warned: “The challenge with liver cancer is that symptoms can be very subtle at first, which is why people often ignore them or put them down to something harmless.
« Liver cancer can sometimes cause what we call referred or phantom pain, where discomfort is felt in the shoulder rather than the abdomen. This happens because the liver sits close to nerves that connect to the shoulder, so irritation can be felt elsewhere in the body.”
Approximately 6,000 people receive a liver cancer diagnosis annually in the UK, with mortality rates from this disease rising faster than any of the 20 most prevalent cancers, according to the British Liver Trust and Liver Cancer UK.
The charity highlights that merely three in 10 liver cancer cases are identified at early stages. Many individuals overlook some of the earliest warning signs of liver cancer owing to their vague nature.
According to the NHS, some of the common symptoms can include:
Jaundice can be an indicator that something is amiss with your liver. It causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow due to a build-up of bilirubin. While it is common in newborns and can clear up on its own, in adults it requires prompt medical attention.
The NHS advises anyone who has spotted a lump in their tummy, lost a significant amount of weight without trying, or is experiencing symptoms of liver cancer that worsen or fail to improve after two weeks, to consult their GP.
It notes: « Many of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by different conditions. Having them does not definitely mean you have liver cancer. But it’s important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they’re caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat. »
A number of lifestyle factors can heighten your risk of liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer, including hepatitis virus infection, excessive alcohol consumption, being overweight and having type 2 diabetes.
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