Does early-stage liver cancer cause itchy skin?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on January 10, 2025
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Liver cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the digestive system. In the early stages of liver cancer, most patients do not exhibit symptoms of skin itching. It is only when the cancer progresses and causes obstructive jaundice that patients clinically develop symptoms of skin itching. Early-stage liver cancer patients typically do not show typical clinical symptoms, or they may not have any significant symptoms at all. This is because early-stage liver cancer lesions are small and localized, without external invasion or metastasis. Therefore, the impact on the entire body is minimal, and clinically it generally manifests as mild abdominal bloating, discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and some patients may experience a dull ache or discomfort in the liver area. Because the symptoms of early-stage liver cancer are atypical, many patients are already in the middle to late stages by the time they seek medical attention, missing the opportunity for clinical cure.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
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Can pain around the belly button be liver cancer?

The tissues around the navel are primarily intestinal tissues. The outer ring is the large intestine, and close to the navel is mainly the small intestine. If there is pain around the navel that feels like pulling or bloating, and it relieves after defecation, then it is generally enteritis. The liver, on the other hand, is located in the upper right part of the abdomen, below the rib margin. If pain occurs in this area, the possibility of liver cancer is high, and the two types of pain are completely different. Pain around the navel is mainly pulling pain, and it is not very severe; whereas liver pain is primarily bloating pain, which is very severe, and general medications cannot alleviate it. Therefore, pain around the navel is unlikely to be liver cancer.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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Can primary liver cancer patients eat eggs?

Patients with primary liver cancer can also eat eggs, as there are no specific prohibitions against it. Eggs are a high-protein food. While many people worry that eating eggs might increase the burden on the liver, there is actually no need for concern. If a patient has a good appetite and can eat well, consuming some eggs to increase protein intake can help enhance body resistance and support antitumor treatment. In addition to eggs, liver cancer patients should also consume other high-quality proteins such as fish and protein powder. These are all beneficial. Of course, the choice should also be based on the patient's own preferences. Additionally, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and eat fresh vegetables and fruits.

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Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
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Is primary liver cancer hereditary?

Primary liver cancer is usually not hereditary, but the reason why it tends to appear in families in China is mainly due to the widespread infection of hepatitis B virus, which then leads to a significant correlation with hepatic cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B. It is well known that the hepatitis B virus is contagious and can easily be transmitted within families and from mother to child. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see several cases of liver cancer within the same family, indicating a familial aggregation. Another factor is related to dietary habits, for example, the infection of aflatoxin, which is mainly found in moldy peanuts. If the dietary habits within a family are similar, then, of course, the likelihood of occurrence is certainly higher.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can liver calcifications be liver cancer?

Calcification in the liver is not liver cancer. For internal liver calcifications, it is described in ultrasonography and CT scans as a benign lesion, not as liver cancer. Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that can be life-threatening, thus it is considered a serious condition. When calcification is present, it is not indicative of liver cancer, but regular follow-up ultrasounds are still needed to monitor changes in size dynamically. If the calcification increases significantly in size over a short period and grows rapidly, malignant transformation should be suspected, and surgery should be conducted as soon as possible to improve the prognosis for the patient. Additionally, for liver cancer patients, it is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammatory stimulation, which is more conducive to the recovery of the condition.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Will early-stage liver cancer cause a low-grade fever?

Patients with early-stage liver cancer may experience low-grade fevers, primarily due to the following two reasons: First, tumor fever. In the early stages of liver cancer, some tumor cells can release tumor mediators into the bloodstream, affecting the function of the temperature regulation center and causing the patient to develop a fever. This type of tumor fever is usually not very high, remaining below 38.5°C, without concurrent symptoms or signs of infection. A complete blood count typically indicates that the total number of white blood cells and the proportion of neutrophils are not elevated. The second scenario involves patients in the early stages of liver cancer experiencing fever due to concurrent infections. These patients often present with symptoms and signs related to infection, such as coughing up phlegm, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and urinary frequency, urgency, or pain. The proportion of white blood cells and neutrophils is significantly increased in these cases.