These are the first symptoms of liver cancer: you should not miss them
It is one of the most dangerous cancers. Liver cancer is one of those with the worst prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of around 18% according to the Ligue contre le cancer . In 2022 (the latest figures available) in France, it caused the death of 9,000 people.
Liver cancer is increasingly common in France, particularly among women. "The incidence rate is increasing by 1.6% per year," states the French League Against Cancer. Globally, international experts recently warned: without strong measures, the number of cases will double by 2050. And inevitably, the number of deaths will also explode. To reduce this rate, it is particularly essential to detect liver cancer as early as possible.
In healthy people, unfortunately, "symptoms of the disease are delayed and nonspecific," according to the National Cancer Institute . Early signs of hepatocellular carcinoma—the most common type of liver cancer—include fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As liver cancer progresses, it can cause other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, fever, and jaundice.
Liver cancer is therefore detected after the appearance of these symptoms - often at an advanced stage - or during follow-up checks for certain diseases. The majority of liver cancers are in fact due to several risk factors. Among them, hepatitis. "The hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses are the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in the world," states the ARC Foundation for Cancer Research .
Hepatitis B and C, or even heavy and regular alcohol consumption, can indeed cause cirrhosis. "Four out of five liver cancers develop" precisely from this disease, according to the ARC Foundation. Obesity, which is exploding in many countries, is also a risk factor. The majority of liver cancer cases are therefore preventable, thanks to vaccination against hepatitis, reducing alcohol consumption, and weight management.
L'Internaute
