Is primary liver cancer hereditary?

Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
Updated on June 26, 2025
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Primary liver cancer. It is not certain to be hereditary, but there is a certain possibility of heredity. In clinical observations, primary liver cancer often presents familial or regional clustering, which is mainly attributed to common dietary habits, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors. Genetics also play a certain role, but it does not mean that the disease will definitely be inherited. Therefore, if parents or other relatives have a history of this type of liver cancer or other malignant tumors, it is crucial to raise awareness and undergo regular health check-ups. Early detection and treatment can lead to better outcomes.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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Which is more treatable, primary liver cancer or metastatic liver cancer?

Primary liver cancer refers to malignant tumors that originate in the liver, while metastatic liver cancer refers to malignant tumors from other parts of the body that have spread to the liver. As to which is easier to treat, it is generally difficult to determine and depends on the control of the primary lesion in cases of metastatic liver cancer; both might be challenging to treat. However, if the lesion in primary liver cancer is relatively small, there may still be an opportunity for surgical treatment. In general, metastatic liver cancer is not amenable to curative surgery because the primary lesion also requires treatment. But in terms of the rate of progression or severity, metastatic liver cancer might progress more slowly, while primary liver cancer generally progresses quite rapidly, making it also very difficult to treat.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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How to protect the liver in the late stages of liver cancer

If liver cancer has reached an advanced stage, this indicates that the patient's condition is very serious, and there is no possibility of cure. It is recommended that the patient take some Chinese herbal medicines for liver protection and maintenance. However, the patient must regulate their condition and control the development of the disease through medication under the guidance of a doctor, in order to prolong their life. However, the specific treatment plan should be determined based on the specific condition of each patient, following the guidance of the doctor for treatment.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
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Can pain around the belly button be liver cancer?

The tissues around the navel are primarily intestinal tissues. The outer ring is the large intestine, and close to the navel is mainly the small intestine. If there is pain around the navel that feels like pulling or bloating, and it relieves after defecation, then it is generally enteritis. The liver, on the other hand, is located in the upper right part of the abdomen, below the rib margin. If pain occurs in this area, the possibility of liver cancer is high, and the two types of pain are completely different. Pain around the navel is mainly pulling pain, and it is not very severe; whereas liver pain is primarily bloating pain, which is very severe, and general medications cannot alleviate it. Therefore, pain around the navel is unlikely to be liver cancer.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Will early-stage liver cancer cause a low-grade fever?

Patients with early-stage liver cancer may experience low-grade fevers, primarily due to the following two reasons: First, tumor fever. In the early stages of liver cancer, some tumor cells can release tumor mediators into the bloodstream, affecting the function of the temperature regulation center and causing the patient to develop a fever. This type of tumor fever is usually not very high, remaining below 38.5°C, without concurrent symptoms or signs of infection. A complete blood count typically indicates that the total number of white blood cells and the proportion of neutrophils are not elevated. The second scenario involves patients in the early stages of liver cancer experiencing fever due to concurrent infections. These patients often present with symptoms and signs related to infection, such as coughing up phlegm, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and urinary frequency, urgency, or pain. The proportion of white blood cells and neutrophils is significantly increased in these cases.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Why does advanced liver cancer cause itching on the body?

Liver cancer itself does not cause itchy skin, but itchy skin can appear in advanced liver cancer patients due to some complications. Firstly, when liver cancer encroaches on the hepatic portal area, it can invade or compress the biliary system, causing obstruction of the biliary system and increased bilirubin in the blood, which leads to generalized itching. When liver cancer patients also have fungal or parasitic infections of the skin, itching can also occur. Additionally, when liver cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, targeted molecular therapy, or other systemic anti-tumor treatments, they may experience generalized itching due to allergies to medications. In some cases where the allergic reactions are severe, symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure and other manifestations of anaphylactic shock can occur, necessitating prompt treatment.