Does Cancer in the Liver Cause Pain?

Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, is a type of cancer that starts in the liver. The different types of liver cancer are

• Primary liver cancer: This cancer originates in the liver. Primary liver cancer is of different types
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common form of liver cancer)
  • Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
  • Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma (cancer that begins in the cell lining of the blood vessels in the liver)
  • Hepatoblastoma (cancer containing immature cells, generally occurring in infants and young children)
• Secondary liver cancer (metastatic liver cancer): Cancer originating in other parts and migrating to the liver.
• Benign liver tumors: Noncancerous tumors may grow large enough to cause problems, but they do not invade nearby tissues.

People with liver cancer or advanced stage liver cancer may experience pain from various sources, including

• Tumors: Tumor or tumors in the liver can cause excess pain.
• Capsule stretching: Stretching of the capsule around the liver can cause discomfort.
• Referred pain: Referred pain is caused by the enlarged liver pressing on the nerves under the diaphragm. It may give rise to pain in the right shoulder because some of the nerves under the diaphragm connect to nerves there.
• Treatment: Cancer medications and treatment may cause pain and discomfort. Also, surgery can cause postoperative pain.
• Underlying medical conditions: If cirrhosis is the cause of liver cancer, pain may be attributed to cirrhosis and not to cancer.

Pain may vary from person to person. Some forms of liver cancer pain include

• Dull, throbbing sensation in the upper right abdomen
• Stabbing sensation that takes the breath away
• Pain radiating to back or in the right shoulder blade

The physician chooses to remove cancer with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Medications for pain fall into three categories

• Over the counter and prescription: For mild pain, fever and swelling, the physician may prescribe acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.
• Weak opioid: Codeine is a weak opioid prescribed for cancer pain.
• Strong opioid: Fentanyl, methadone and morphine are the potent opioids used to relieve cancer pain.
• Antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs and steroids are also useful in treating cancer pain.

Moreover, additional therapy might help treat pain, which includes

• Nerve block: Sometimes, a nerve block or local anesthetic relieves or reduces pain. The physician injects local anesthesia into or near nerves in the abdomen.
• Radiation: It can reduce the tumor size, thus relieving some or all of the pain. 

Alternative treatment may also be used along with medical management to treat cancer pain, which includes

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Hypnosis
• Massage therapy
• Physical therapy
• Imagery
• Relaxation