Written with men in mind. Most of this guide applies to everyone. Details specific to women — such as screening ages and risks that differ — are not covered yet; female health guides are being written.
What it is
Liver cancer that starts in the liver (rather than spreading there) is most often hepatocellular carcinoma. It usually develops in a liver scarred by long-term damage (cirrhosis).[1][2]
Chronic hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer in North America, Europe and Japan; chronic hepatitis B in Asia and Africa. Heavy alcohol use and the most severe form of fatty liver disease can cause cirrhosis and raise risk.[2]
Treatment options include partial hepatectomy, transplantation, ablation, transarterial embolisation, radiation, targeted therapy and immunotherapy; small lesions under 1 cm found on surveillance are often followed with repeat imaging about every 3 months.[1]
See the liver and its eight surgical segments in 3D.
See it in 3DHow common it is
Causes and risk factors
Things you can't change
- Cirrhosis from any cause.[2]
- Rare inherited conditions such as untreated haemochromatosis or Wilson disease.[2]
Things you can change
Symptoms worth reporting to a doctor
- Weight loss without trying; poor appetite; feeling full quickly
- A swollen liver felt under the right ribs, or swelling of the belly
- Pain in the belly or near the right shoulder blade
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); itchy skin
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
These are more often caused by other conditions, but should be checked.[4]
How it's diagnosed
Stages in general terms
In general terms:[5]
- Localised: still where it started.
- Regional: spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.
- Distant: spread to other parts of the body.
An illustration, not a stage. Human Atlas never assigns a stage. Only your own tests and your care team can do that.
Types of treatment
- Surgery or transplant. Removing part of the liver, or a liver transplant for some people.[1]
- Ablation and embolisation. Destroying tumours with heat or cutting off their blood supply.[1]
- Targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiation. Especially for larger or advanced cancers.[1]
Which option fits depends on the details of each person’s situation. Your care team decides with you.
What you can do
Questions to ask your doctor
- Have I been tested for hepatitis B and C?
- Do I need regular liver cancer surveillance because of cirrhosis?
- Which treatments fit my liver function?
Myth vs. fact
Guided lesson
Plus Chapter 1 is free for everyone.
Follow this topic step by step on the 3D body.
Start chapter 1 freeRelated topics
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What cancer is, how screening differs from diagnosis, what 'stage' means, and the main types of treatment — in plain English.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute. Liver (Hepatocellular) Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) – Patient Version. Checked 23 October 2026.
- National Cancer Institute. Liver Cancer Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention. Checked 24 October 2026.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics About Liver Cancer (2026 estimates). Checked 23 October 2026.
- American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Liver Cancer. Checked 24 October 2026.
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Staging. Checked 23 October 2026.
- NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Checked 23 October 2026.
- US Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Top 10 Things to Know. Checked 23 October 2026.
The owner of this website is not a doctor. Human Atlas provides educational anatomy information and does not diagnose, stage, or treat disease. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything concerning your own health.