Liver cancer diagnosis follows persistent itching in Hangzhou woman

A 50-year-old woman in Hangzhou, China, was diagnosed with primary liver cancer after mistaking persistent skin itching for a simple allergy. The itching, which began in her legs and spread to her upper body, did not respond to self-medication, leading to a medical examination that revealed an abnormal liver tumor.

Medical experts note that the liver has a high compensatory capacity, meaning it can function relatively normally even when some cells are damaged. Consequently, early-stage liver disease often presents with vague symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating, or mild itching, which are frequently misidentified as exhaustion, allergies, or digestive issues.

Dr. Yang Li, Head of Gastroenterology at Zhengzhou People's Hospital, explained that while itching can be linked to liver or biliary diseases—caused by the accumulation of bile-related substances when bile flow is obstructed—it is not a specific indicator of cancer. Patients are advised not to ignore persistent, unexplained itching that does not respond to standard treatments.