What does shoulder pain indicate regarding liver cancer?

Nerve pain in the right shoulder can be a warning sign of liver cancer due to referred pain from an enlarged liver pressing on nerves.

How common is liver disease in the UK?

Liver disease is a growing concern in the UK, causing over 11,000 deaths annually and is considered a 'silent killer'.

What are the survival rates for liver cancer in the UK?

Liver cancer has one of the lowest survival rates, with only 13% of people surviving for five years or more.

Home / Health / Shoulder Pain: A Hidden Liver Cancer Sign?

Shoulder Pain: A Hidden Liver Cancer Sign?

14 Feb

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Summary

Nerve pain in the right shoulder can signal liver cancer.
Referred pain occurs when discomfort is felt distant from the source.
Liver disease is a silent killer, increasing in the UK.

Shoulder Pain: A Hidden Liver Cancer Sign?

Pain in the right shoulder or upper right abdomen may indicate liver cancer, as noted by the NHS. This discomfort can be a form of referred pain, where an issue in the liver causes pain felt elsewhere, such as the shoulder blade. An enlarged liver from a growing tumor can stimulate nerves connected to the shoulder area, leading the brain to interpret this as shoulder pain.

Liver disease is described as a 'silent killer' on the rise in the UK, contributing to over 11,000 deaths each year. Liver cancer also has a high mortality rate, with only 13% of patients surviving for five years or more. Many cases are diagnosed late, with only three in 10 detected at an early stage.