What is liver cancer?

The liver is a large organ on the right side of your belly. It cleans your blood, makes proteins, and helps digest food. The most common liver cancer in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC. It starts in the main liver cells. This guide is about HCC.

When should I call my care team?

Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or chills; Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; Black, tarry, or bloody stools; New or worse confusion, very sleepy, or hard to wake up; Yellow skin or eyes that are new or getting worse; Belly that is quickly getting larger, or belly pain with fever; Severe belly pain, especially after TACE, Y-90, or ablation; Severe diarrhea, or diarrhea with blood; Very high blood pressure readings, or a bad headache with blurry vision; Not able to eat or drink or keep fluids down for a day; Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath; If it feels very bad, call 911.

Liver cancer

Liver cancer can be found early with regular checks, and there are now more ways than ever to treat it.

Hi, I'm Rosa. Today we'll go through liver cancer together, one step at a time. I'll keep it simple, and you can pause me, go back, or skip ahead whenever you like. Just so you know, this is for learning only. It is not medical advice, so please check everything with your own doctor and care team. Okay, let's get started.

What liver cancer is

Let's start with the basics. The liver is a large organ on the right side of your belly. It cleans your blood and helps digest food. The most common liver cancer starts in the main liver cells. Most of the time, it grows in a liver that is already damaged. Long-term scarring of the liver is called cirrhosis. Common causes are hepatitis B or C, heavy drinking, and fatty liver disease. Cancer that spreads to the liver from somewhere else is different. Your care team treats two things. They treat the cancer and the liver itself.

The main types

Let's talk briefly about the types. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type. It starts in the main liver cells. Fibrolamellar carcinoma is rare. It usually affects teens and young adults. A rare mixed tumor has features of liver and bile duct cancer. Bile duct cancer is a different disease with its own treatment. Cancer can also spread to the liver from another place. That is treated based on where it started. Ask your care team which type you have.

Tests you may have

Now let's talk about tests. An ultrasound uses sound waves to see the liver. People at high risk often have one regularly. Special CT or MRI scans are taken with contrast dye. In people with cirrhosis, they can confirm cancer without a biopsy. A biopsy takes a tiny piece of tissue, only when needed. A blood test called alpha-fetoprotein can help track the cancer. Other blood tests show how well your liver works. You will be tested for hepatitis B and C. A camera test may look for swollen veins in the food pipe.

What the stage means

Next up, let's talk about stages. Liver cancer staging looks at three things. It looks at the size and number of tumors. It looks at how well your liver works. And it looks at how well you do daily activities. Why do doctors use stages? They help your care team plan treatment. They also help everyone talk the same language. Your team may also give a liver health score, from A to C. A is the healthiest. Your doctor will explain what your stage means for you.

Tumor markers and liver tests

Before we move to treatment, there are some things to know. Liver cancer has fewer gene targets than some cancers. Treatment is chosen mostly by stage and liver health. A few blood tests still matter a lot. A protein called alpha-fetoprotein can help track the cancer. Other tests show how well your liver clears waste and makes protein. A virus test shows how much hepatitis is in your blood. Platelets matter for bleeding risk. Your doctor will tell you what your numbers mean. You can read more in the guide. The Questions to ask page can help too.

Main treatment options

Now let's look at treatment. Surgery removes the part of the liver with the tumor. A liver transplant replaces the whole liver. Ablation destroys small tumors with heat, cold, or alcohol. Some treatments go through the liver's blood supply. They send chemotherapy or tiny radiation beads right to the tumor. Focused radiation aims precisely at the tumor. For advanced cancer, immunotherapy helps your immune system attack. Targeted pills block signals the tumor uses to grow. Supportive care helps with symptoms at any stage. Clinical trials are research studies that may offer new options. Ask your care team.

Side effects and what helps

Let's talk about side effects. After some liver procedures, fever and belly pain are common. This usually lasts a few days. Feeling tired is very common. Short walks and rest breaks help. Some pills cause sore skin on the palms and soles. Thick moisturizers and soft shoes help. Blood pressure can go up, so check it at home if asked. Report black stools or vomiting blood right away. Report new confusion too. We have a whole side effects guide on this site.

Living well with it

Last, let's talk about living well. Taking care of your liver is part of treating the cancer. Do not drink alcohol. Ask before taking any new medicine or supplement. If you have hepatitis, take your antiviral medicine as prescribed. You will have scans and blood tests often. Eat a balanced diet with enough protein. It is normal to feel scared or tired. Support groups can help. Call right away for a fever, vomiting blood, or new confusion. If it feels very bad, call 911. Also see our new Screening, prevention and survivorship section.

You did great today. That was a lot, and you took it one step at a time. Write down your questions and bring them to your next visit. Call your care team any time something worries you. You are not alone in this.

Call your care team right away if you have

Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or chills
Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
Black, tarry, or bloody stools
New or worse confusion, very sleepy, or hard to wake up
Yellow skin or eyes that are new or getting worse
Belly that is quickly getting larger, or belly pain with fever
Severe belly pain, especially after TACE, Y-90, or ablation
Severe diarrhea, or diarrhea with blood
Very high blood pressure readings, or a bad headache with blurry vision
Not able to eat or drink or keep fluids down for a day
Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath
If it feels very bad, call 911.

Side effects: what helps

Sources

Quick answers

What is liver cancer?: The liver is a large organ on the right side of your belly. It cleans your blood, makes proteins, and helps digest food. The most common liver cancer in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC. It starts in the main liver cells. This guide is about HCC.
When should I call my care team?: Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or chills; Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; Black, tarry, or bloody stools; New or worse confusion, very sleepy, or hard to wake up; Yellow skin or eyes that are new or getting worse; Belly that is quickly getting larger, or belly pain with fever; Severe belly pain, especially after TACE, Y-90, or ablation; Severe diarrhea, or diarrhea with blood; Very high blood pressure readings, or a bad headache with blurry vision; Not able to eat or drink or keep fluids down for a day; Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath; If it feels very bad, call 911.

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.