Liver cancer: We’re here for you

Your lifestyle and other conditions can impact your risk for liver cancer.

Talk with your doctor about your risk factors, which can include:

• Alcoholism

• Cirrhosis

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol

• Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis C

You can make changes to prevent liver cancer:

• Avoid heavy alcohol consumption

• Don’t smoke

• Eat a healthy diet

• Get a hepatitis B vaccine

• Get treatment for a chronic hepatitis B infection

• Maintain a healthy weight

Liver cancer includes hepatocellular carcinoma and bile duct cancer. You might experience symptoms including:

• Discomfort in your upper abdomen

• Easy bruising or bleeding

• Fever

• Hard lump on your right side, below your rib cage

• Jaundice

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea or vomiting

• Pain near your right shoulder blade or in your back

• Pale, chunky bowel movements

• Swollen abdomen

• Unusual tiredness or weakness

• Weight loss for no known reason

There is no standard screening for liver cancer. If your risk is high enough with hepatitis B or C, regular imaging may be helpful. Your doctor may notice changes in your liver function from routine blood work. If you show signs of liver cancer, certain tests can help make a diagnosis. 

Your doctor may order:

• Imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans

• Liver biopsy

• Liver function test

• Physical exam

• Serum marker test

• Tumor marker test

• Ultrasound

Your liver cancer team provides treatment options for your specific type of cancer. Whenever possible, we perform surgery to remove tumors from the liver. In very selected cases, liver transplant is possible. If surgery or transplant is not possible, we offer care to shrink or destroy the cancer cells.

Your treatment might include:

• Chemoembolization or radioembolization

• Microwave or radiofrequency ablation

• Radiation therapy

• Systemic chemotherapy

Improving care with research

Our liver cancer doctors study new treatments and prevention methods to improve care for you. If you are a candidate, your doctor will talk with you about taking part in a clinical trial.

Learn more about clinical trials

The specialists at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center provide complete liver cancer care.