Experts reveal symptom in your shoulder that could be 'silent killer' cancer warning
Healthcare professionals are speaking about a relatively unknown symptom in your shoulder that could be a sign of cancer.
The American Cancer Society predicts that 2.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the US this year, which works out at roughly 5,800 cases every day.
It's also predicted that over 623,000 people will die as a result of the disease in 2026.
With cancer cases on the rise globally, it's important to be aware of some of the symptoms to look out for, with experts speaking of a symptom in your shoulder that could be a sign of liver cancer.
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You may be thinking the shoulder is nowhere near the liver in the human body, but the NHS states that an enlarged liver can press on the nerves supplying the shoulder, causing uncomfortable pain in the process.
The Cancer Research UK website states: "A swollen (enlarged) liver can cause pain in your right shoulder or back.
"This is because the enlarged liver stimulates nerves that connect to nerves in the shoulder. This is called referred pain... A swollen abdomen might cause discomfort or pain, and a loss of appetite or feeling full quickly. It can also cause breathlessness or swollen feet."
Symptoms of liver cancer
According to the NHS, symptoms of liver cancer include:
- The whites of your eyes turning yellow or your skin turning yellow
- Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- Feeling tired or having no energy
- Feeling generally unwell or experiencing flu-like symptoms
- A lump in the right side of your tummy
The health service also notes there are such digestion issues that can present themselves, which are:
- Feeling or being sick
- Pain at the top right side of your stomachand/or the right shoulder
- General indigestion symptoms
- A very swollen stomach not related to eatin
Of course these symptoms don't necessarily mean you've got cancer, but it's always worth booking a doctors appointment if such persists.
The British Liver Trust dubs liver cancer a 'silent killer', and is the only 'major disease' that has seen death rates rising.
The charity notes that nine in ten cases of liver cancer are preventable, as they explained: "Together alcohol, viral hepatitis, and overweight and obesity are the major causes of liver disease. Societal changes are essential to create an environment where healthy options are readily available to everyone and people are supported to make healthy changes to their daily lives."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Callum Jones