What are some facts about liver cancer?

The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, and people usually do not have signs or symptoms in the cancer’s early stages, according to Mayo Clinic. Also, liver cancer develops when mutations occur in the DNA of liver cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma begins developing in the hepatocyte, which is the main type of liver cell, explains Mayo Clinic. Other types of liver cells develop cancer much more rarely.

When symptoms of liver cancer become evident, they can include abdominal swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice or unexplained weight loss, according to Mayo Clinic. Additional symptoms are weakness, fatigue, vomiting, upper abdominal pain or white, chalky stools.

When mutations occur in DNA, cells can begin growing out of control, explains Mayo Clinic. They may form a tumor, a cancerous mass of cells.