Types of cancer

Secondary liver cancer

Trustworthy information about secondary liver cancer, including diagnosis, treatment, side effects and wellbeing

Overview

The liver is the largest organ in the body. It’s found in the belly and helps break down food and turn it into energy.

Sometimes, cancer spreads to the liver from another part of the body. This is called secondary liver cancer. It may also be named after where the cancer started - for example, secondary liver cancer that started in the lung may be called metastatic lung cancer. To read about cancer that started in the liver, see primary liver cancer.

A secondary liver cancer diagnosis can be a shock. Find helpful information in Living with Advanced Cancer, or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to talk it through with our qualified professionals.

Secondary liver cancer fact sheet (PDF)

About this information

The information on this website is not medical, legal or financial advice. Always consult appropriate professionals about your specific situation. Full disclaimer.

Reviewers

All updated content has been clinically reviewed by:

Prof Desmond Yip, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, ACT. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Prof Desmond Yip (see above); A/Prof Siddhartha Baxi, Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director, GenesisCare, Gold Coast, QLD; Prof Katherine Clark, Clinical Director of Palliative Care, NSLHD Supportive and Palliative Care Network, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Anne Dowling, Hepatoma Clinical Nurse Consultant and Liver Transplant Coordinator, Austin Health, VIC; A/Prof Koroush Haghighi, Liver, Pancreas and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Prince of Wales and St Vincent's Hospitals, NSW; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Brett Knowles, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and General Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and St Vincent's Hospital, VIC; Lina Sharma, Consumer; A/Prof Simone Strasser, Head of Department and Hepatologist, AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and The University of Sydney, NSW; David Thomas, Consumer.

We would like to thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on this and previous versions of this information.

View our editorial policy.

Understanding Liver Cancer (secondary)

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What's in this fact sheet

About secondary liver cancer

Read about how the liver works and which cancers can spread to the liver.

Symptoms and risk factors

Secondary liver cancer may not cause symptoms at first. As it grows, symptoms include tiredness, belly pain, and yellow skin or eyes (jaundice).

Diagnosis

Blood tests, scans and a biopsy may be used to diagnose secondary liver cancer.

Treatment

Chemotherapy is the main treatment. Other treatments may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and special types of radiation therapy known as SIRT and SBRT.

Managing symptoms

Read about symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, pain, jaundice and extreme tiredness. Understand ways to manage these and other symptoms.

Questions to ask your doctor

It can be a good idea to prepare a list of questions before your appointments. See our list of questions about secondary liver cancer care.

Relevant support

Liver Foundation

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Cancer information Support from cancer nurses Emotional support +2

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Pancare Foundation

Services offered

Cancer information Support from cancer nurses Support from other health professionals +4

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