What does the complexion look like in the early stages of liver cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on June 17, 2025
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In the early stages of liver cancer, there are usually no noticeable changes in complexion, because the tumor is relatively small at this stage and does not compress the local bile ducts or liver tissue, nor does it cause significant damage to liver function. Therefore, the symptoms are mainly localized to the liver area, or there may be no obvious clinical symptoms at all. Some patients may only feel a dull pain in the liver area, while others may experience nausea, belching, or even diarrhea or poor appetite as clinical manifestations. Furthermore, early-stage liver cancer patients do not exhibit significant clinical symptoms. However, as the disease progresses and the tumor grows, it can compress the intrahepatic bile ducts, or even invade the hepatic bile duct system and other areas, causing damage to liver cells, leading to hepatocellular or obstructive jaundice. Clinically, patients may develop a yellowing of the skin, and some may develop pallor due to anemia caused by advanced disease changes.

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Does early-stage liver cancer metastasize?

Patients with early-stage liver cancer generally do not experience metastasis. This is because for patients with early-stage liver cancer, the lesions are localized and have not spread, thus being classified as early-stage. Moreover, the general treatment for patients with early-stage liver cancer involves curative surgery. Since the lesions are localized, in most cases, there will be no recurrence or metastasis after the surgery. Therefore, for early-stage patients, there is no need to administer adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy and other anti-tumor treatments after the surgery. However, once the liver cancer lesions invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to distant sites, it indicates that the lesions have spread, and the clinical stage has progressed to mid or late stages, losing the opportunity for curative surgery. Most patients undergo comprehensive treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy which generally results in a reduction in survival time.

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What should I do if I have liver cancer and a fever of 38 degrees Celsius?

Liver cancer patients experiencing a fever of 38°C can be seen in the following scenarios: The first type is tumor-related fever. In liver cancer patients, especially those in the advanced stages or with large tumors, a fever of around 38°C can occur in the absence of infection symptoms. This tumor fever is related to various mediators released into the blood by the tumor. The second type is infectious fever. Cancer patients undergoing anti-tumor treatment may experience immunosuppression and concurrent infections. This type of fever often exceeds 38.5°C but can also occur around 38°C in the early stages, often accompanied by symptoms of infection such as coughing, sputum production, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The third type is treatment-related fever. Patients with liver cancer may experience a fever of around 38°C on the day of and several days following interventional treatments.

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Will Hepatitis B with e-antigen positive develop into liver cancer?

A small portion of patients with hepatitis B major yang can develop into liver cancer, but this development process is generally long. Primary liver cancer is currently the fourth most common malignant tumor in China, and the third leading cause of tumor death, seriously threatening the lives and health of our people. Primary liver cancer includes three types, of which hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for more than 85% to 90%. A large part of patients with primary liver cancer in China, most of whom have a background of chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis.

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Is alpha-fetoprotein 9 liver cancer?

If alpha-fetoprotein is at 9, the possibility of liver cancer is not high, because an alpha-fetoprotein level of 9 is not considered high. Generally, if alpha-fetoprotein exceeds 300, the likelihood of liver cancer becomes significant. Elevated alpha-fetoprotein can occur in common liver diseases, such as during acute episodes of chronic, active hepatitis, and also in liver cancer. Additionally, some other malignant tumors can also show elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels. When we detect elevated alpha-fetoprotein, the first step is to clearly diagnose the disease, which may involve tests such as hepatitis B serology or DNA testing. Imaging tests like abdominal ultrasounds can help determine the specific disease, followed by targeted treatment.

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Early-stage liver cancer: how to exercise daily

Patients with early-stage liver cancer can engage in light and low-intensity exercises daily, such as slow walking and strolling. This is because early-stage liver cancer patients generally have an acceptable physical condition, although most of them have low immunity. Doing some appropriate exercises can enhance the patients’ immune system and has minimal impact on their overall physical condition. Moreover, patients with early-stage liver cancer usually undergo curative surgery for treatment. In most cases, post-surgery, they do not require radiation, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy for tumor treatment. With close follow-up, as long as there is no recurrence or metastasis, most patients can achieve clinical cure. Early exercise is beneficial for the recovery of patients, thus it is recommended. In addition, for patients with early-stage liver cancer, close follow-up of the disease changes after curative surgery is crucial to provide timely treatment.