Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States. The liver, situated above the stomach and below the diaphragm, is a football-shaped organ that is essential for survival. It produces bile to eliminate waste, processes hemoglobin for iron, and converts glucose into glycerin, among many other vital functions.
When liver cancer occurs, prompt treatment is crucial. For those seeking convenience and comfort, cancer care at home services can be a valuable option, providing personalized support while managing this serious condition.
What types of Cancer Begin in the Liver
The liver can develop several types of cancer. The most common is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in liver cells. Other types may start in the bile ducts or, more rarely, in the lining of the liver’s blood vessels. Liver cancer is often a secondary cancer, occurring when cancer from another part of the body spreads to the liver.
With the right support, including cancer care at home, patients can receive personalized treatment and comfort while managing their condition.
Liver Cancer Symptoms
No matter what type of liver cancer a person has or where it started, the symptoms for all of them are similar. Like many cancers, unfortunately, symptoms often don’t appear until the cancer has progressed to its later stages.
- Weight loss without trying. It can be accompanied by a large decrease in appetite.
- Urine that is dark colored, and stools that appear chalky or extremely pale.
- Getting easily bruised or bruising without any indication of injury occurring.
- Pain in the upper abdomen, which may be accompanied by swelling.
- Skin and eye whites developing a yellowish tint (also known as jaundice).
- Persistent nausea and vomiting.
- Extreme fatigue
Liver Cancer Risk Factors
While excessive alcohol use is often associated with liver disease, not everyone who drinks heavily will develop liver cancer, and many people with liver cancer have no history of alcohol overconsumption. For those managing the disease, options like cancer care at home professionals can provide personalized support and comfort during treatment.
Other risk factors can also contribute to liver cancer:
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease creates an accumulation of fat in the liver and increases the risk of liver cancer.
- Chronic infections with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- Inherited liver diseases such as hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease.
- Type-2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Smoking
Getting Cancer Care at Home Support Through Treatment
If your loved one does have liver cancer, his doctor will work with him and you to develop a care plan that will be best for him and successfully treat the disease. It can be a long process with many serious treatments, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and more. Your loved one is going to need to have someone available to provide cancer care at home as he goes on this journey.
It can be overwhelming for family members to help with all the daily living activities that your loved one will either need to stop doing or require assistance with. A team that supports your loved one’s cancer care at home by providing homemaker services, offering meals, and offering companionship can make this journey easier for both your loved one and you.
With cancer care at home providers, you’ll have someone else on your team as you care for your loved one, and that can make all the difference.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Cancer Care at Home in Los Gatos, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources:
- Liver Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors - April 24, 2025
- Seven Indicators That Your Loved One Could Benefit from 24-Hour Home Care - April 18, 2025
- Creating Visual Cues to Support Independence for Seniors With Alzheimer’s - April 9, 2025
