The liver is located just below the right lung and diaphragm. It is divided into right and left lobes. The liver receives blood from the heptic artery and the portal vein. The hepatic artery supplies the oxygen-rich blood, while the portal vein nutrient-rich blood from the intestines.

The liver secretes bile into the intestine to help absorb nutrients. The liver also helps in removing toxic wastes from our body.

Several types of tumors, cancerous and not cancerous can form in the liver. The liver cancer is seen in some parts of Asia and Africa and is rare in the USA. It occurs more frequently in males than females.

There are no early warning signs or symptoms of liver cancer. Some of the common symptoms of liver cancer are

Pain in the right upper abdominal area, abdominal fullness or bloating. Weight Loss.
Breast swelling in males.
Loss of appetite.
Intestinal bleeding and
Blood clotting problems, bruises on the skin.
Weakness.

It should be noted that these symptoms may be due to other causes.

Copyright 2005, P. Mehta

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