Liver cancer (secondary)

A cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the liver is called secondary cancer in the liver.

The most common types of cancer that spread to the liver start in the bowel, breast, pancreas, stomach, lung, ovary or skin (melanoma).

If you have secondary liver cancer, you may find it helpful to read this section together with the section for your primary cancer (where the cancer started).

Meet the Gastrointestinal (GI) team.


Symptoms of secondary liver cancer

Secondary cancer in the liver may not cause any symptoms for a long time, and it may only be discovered by routine tests. Symptoms that might occur include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
  • Flu like symptoms
  • Jaundice
  • Pain in the abdomen or right shoulder
  • Swelling in the abdomen

For more information on the symptoms of secondary cancer, please follow this link.


Patient information

For more information from Macmillan regarding liver cancer, please follow this link.

For more information from Cancer Research UK regarding liver cancer, please follow this link.