Liver cancer at a glance

Liver cancer at a glance

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerandresearch/cancers/livercancer/

Liver cancer that starts in the liver is relatively rare in the UK and other countries in the West, but is more common in Africa and Asia.

Each year, there are over 2,800 new cases in the UK, accounting for less than one per cent of all new cancers diagnosed. It is more common in men than in women.

Primary liver cancer should not be confused with secondary liver cancer, where cancer has spread to the liver from another part of the body.

The liver is a large organ in the abdomen below your right lung, which carries out a wide range of vital functions in the body. It stores nutrients, converts fats into energy, makes blood proteins and other chemicals the body needs. The liver also breaks down harmful substances such as alcohol.

Liver cancer may spread to other parts of the body. It can grow into the bile duct, blocking the drainage of bile from the liver. This results in jaundice, with yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.