Liver cancer—predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—often begins silently; early-stage tumours rarely cause pain or obvious changes. As the lesion enlarges or invades adjacent structures, the following complaints typically appear:

1. Right-upper-quadrant discomfort
   A dull, continuous ache or heaviness develops beneath the ribs and may radiate to the back or right shoulder.
2. Palpable mass or swelling
   Patients or clinicians can feel a firm, nodular liver edge below the costal margin; progressive enlargement can produce visible asymmetry of the abdomen.
3. Unintended weight loss & anorexia
   Rapid loss of >5 % body weight within weeks, early satiety and loss of interest in food are common systemic effects.
4. Fatigue and weakness
   Persistent tiredness unrelated to exertion reflects both malignant cachexia and underlying chronic liver disease.
5. Jaundice
   Yellow discoloration of sclerae and skin arises when tumour compression or portal vein invasion reduces bilirubin excretion.
6. Ascites & peripheral oedema
   Fluid accumulates in the peritoneal cavity and ankles as portal hypertension and hypoalbuminaemia worsen.
7. Pyrexia & night sweats
   Low-grade fever is present in ~30 % of cases, probably due to cytokine release or central tumour necrosis.
8. GI bleeding
   Ruptured oesophageal or gastric varices may cause haematemesis or melaena when portal pressure rises.
9. Paraneoplastic signs
   Hypercalcaemia, hypoglycaemia, erythrocytosis or cutaneous lesions (e.g., dermatomyositis) occasionally precede other manifestations.

Symptoms are often indistinguishable from decompensated cirrhosis; any new or worsening complaint in a cirrhotic patient warrants immediate imaging and tumour-marker assessment.