Deaths caused by this disease more than tripled between 2017 to 2019 and it is now the fastest rising cause of cancer deaths in the UK
Health experts have flagged nine key warning signs of a potentially deadly disease amid a concerning spike in cases. Statistics from Cancer Research UK have revealed that deaths from liver cancer more than tripled between 2017 to 2019.
As a result, the disease is now the fastest rising cause of cancer deaths in the UK. And case rates are predicted to rise by six per cent between 2023 and 2025, according to Liver Cancer UK.
It is already the eighth most common cause of cancer death in the UK, BirminghamLive reports, accounting for three percent of all cancer deaths. There are around 5,800 liver cancer deaths in the UK every year, that’s 16 every day.
Your risk of developing cancer depends on many factors including your age and genetics. However, some contributing factors are also dependent on lifestyle, such as diet, whether you smoke and drink alcohol, and how often you exercise.
As with any medical condition, the sooner you spot the signs the sooner you can seek the treatment you need. With this in mind the NHS lists nine key symptoms of liver cancer to be aware of.
These are:
- A very swollen tummy that is not related to when you eat
- Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- Feeling or being sick
- Feeling generally unwell or having symptoms like flu
- Symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling full very quickly when eating
- The whites of your eyes turning yellow or your skin turning yellow, which may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice) – you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
- Pain at the top right side of your tummy or in your right shoulder
- Feeling tired or having no energy
- A lump in the right side of your stomach
While these symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cancer, it is important to get them checked as soon as possible just to be sure. The NHS website adds: “Many of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by different conditions. Having them does not definitely mean you have liver cancer.
“But it’s important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they’re caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat.”
According to the NHS, you are at greater risk of developing liver cancer if you:
- Are over 60 – it’s most common in people over 85
- Are a man
- Have certain medical conditions, such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, gallstones, diabetes, a parasite in the liver (liver flukes) or HIV
- Have a brother, sister or parent who had primary liver cancer
You can make certain lifestyle choices to lower your risk for the disease, which include:
- Losing weight if you’re overweight
- Wearing protective clothes and masks if you work in a job where you’re exposed to harmful chemicals
- Cutting down on alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
- Quitting smoking
If you experience any symptoms, you should speak to your GP.
