Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently develops in patients with underlying chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 80% of people diagnosed with HCC have cirrhosis of the liver, while others develop the malignancy through unmanaged, long-term inflammation that causes severe scarring.
Recognizing Early and Progressive HCC Symptoms
Tumors may not cause symptoms in the early stages of hepatocellular carcinoma. As the disease progresses, patients may experience specific physical changes that signal advanced liver dysfunction, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These clinical signs include a feeling of fullness or a knot under the ribs on the right side from an enlarged liver, or fullness on the left side indicating an enlarged spleen.
Additional advanced symptoms reported by the Cleveland Clinic involve:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (signs of jaundice)
- A stomach that feels swollen, like it’s filling up with fluid
- Loss of appetite or feeling full after a small meal
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Itching
Medical providers recommend scheduling an evaluation if these symptoms persist for longer than two weeks, though many non-cancerous conditions can cause similar warning signs.
Underlying Causes and Primary Risk Factors
Chronic liver inflammation remains a driver of hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the Cleveland Clinic, primary risk factors that accelerate liver scarring and elevate cancer risk include chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and alcohol use disorder. Hepatitis B can trigger HCC even before cirrhosis develops or in the absence of liver cirrhosis.
MASLD causes excess fat to accumulate in the liver and is linked to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, or inherited metabolic syndromes. Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption places a burden on the liver, eventually resulting in cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Screening and Risk Reduction Strategies
For individuals belonging to high-risk groups, clinicians may suggest regular screenings to catch hepatocellular carcinoma early, when it’s treatable, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Healthcare providers assist patients in lowering their overall risk by offering support to quit smoking and drinking, as well as managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hepatitis infections.
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