Last Stages of Liver Cancer

The last stages, or end stages, of liver cancer involve wasting, pain and suffering. Liver cancer is a serious disease in which affected individuals have less than a 50 percent survival rate. Treatment options include surgery, liver transplant, chemotherapy, proton beam therapy, ablation and chemoembolization. In 2008, over 20,000 new cases of liver cancer were diagnosed in America.

Loss of Appetite

End stage liver cancer patients typically do not want to eat and experience loss of appetite.

Weight Loss

Because liver cancer patients do not eat, they experience severe weight loss.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a classic sign of end stage liver cancer. Because the liver does not function properly, bilirubin builds up in the skin, causing it to turn yellow.

Abdominal Pain

Last stage liver cancer patients experience abdominal pain and tenderness.

Abdominal Swelling

When the liver cannot filter the blood properly due to the last stages of liver cancer, fluid builds up, causing abdominal swelling and distention.

Muscle Wasting

Patients with last stage liver cancer experience muscle wasting.

Hemorrhage

End stage liver cancer causes blockage of veins and ducts, which results in abdominal hemorrhaging.

Resources

• Liver Cancer Home Page-National Cancer Institute