Liver Cancer

Diagram described below

Anatomy of the liver. The liver is in the upper abdomen near the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, and pancreas. The liver has four lobes. Two lobes are on the front and two small lobes (not shown) are on the back of the liver. Intrahepatic bile ducts are a network of small tubes that carry bile inside the liver.

© 2010 Terese Winslow LLC, U.S. Govt. has certain rights. Used with Permission. Contact artist at www.teresewinslow.com for licensing.

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the liver, it is called liver cancer. Each year in the United States, about 25,000 men and 11,000 women get liver cancer, and about 19,000 men and 9,000 women die from the disease. The percentage of Americans who get liver cancer rose for several decades, but is now declining. Liver cancer is more common in other parts of the world than in the United States.

What Is the Liver?

The liver is located on the upper right side of the body, behind the lower ribs. The liver does many jobs, including—

  • Storing nutrients.
  • Removing waste products and worn-out cells from the blood.
  • Filtering and processing chemicals in food, alcohol, and medications.
  • Producing bile, a solution that helps digest fats and eliminate waste products.

What Are the Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

In its early stages, liver cancer may not have symptoms that can be seen or felt. However, as the cancer grows larger, people may notice one or more of these common symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms could also be caused by other health conditions. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Liver cancer symptoms may include—

  • Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right side.
  • A swollen abdomen.
  • A hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage.
  • Pain near the right shoulder blade or in the back.
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
  • Easy bruising or bleeding.
  • Unusual tiredness.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Weight loss for no known reason.
Photo of Gary, a liver cancer survivor
I Have Liver Cancer, But You Don’t Have To

An illness caught Gary off guard, and test results found something he never expected. Read his story.

What Causes Liver Cancer?

Behaviors and conditions that increase risk for getting liver cancer are—

How Can I Reduce My Risk for Liver Cancer?

You can lower your risk of getting liver cancer in the following ways—

Preventing Liver Cancer Among Opioid Users

Liver cancer can be caused by chronic infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV). The opioid epidemic has increased the number of people who inject drugs in the United States, which may lead to an increased risk of HCV and HBV transmission through use of shared equipment.

Statistics

The Data Visualizations tool makes it easy for anyone to explore and use the latest official federal government cancer data from United States Cancer Statistics. It includes the latest cancer data covering the U.S. population.

Map of the United States.
See rates or numbers of new liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers or liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer deaths for the entire United States and individual states. Also, see the top 10 cancers for men and women.
Bar chart of demographics.
See rates or numbers of new liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers or liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer deaths by race/ethnicity, sex, and age group.
Line chart of trends.
See how the rates of new liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers or liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer deaths changed over time for the entire United States and individual states.