What is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer is cancer that starts in the liver. It can also be called primary liver cancer. The liver sits just below your right lung and lower ribs on the right side of your upper body. Your liver is one of the most important organs and is the second largest organ in your body. The liver helps you digest food, removes toxins and helps your blood to clot and has many more functions.

Image courtesy of © Cancer Research UK taken 28/10/24

Liver cancer is not common in the UK, although the number is growing with almost 5,700 people diagnosed with primary liver cancer every year.

Macmillan have a useful video to explain ‘What is Liver cancer’? (Symptoms, Causes and Treatments) which you can watch here.

Cancer Research UK also have the following useful links:

There are many different types of liver cancer and the type you can have will depend where and the type of cell it starts in which is as follows:

Our staff at Salisbury District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.