Liver Cancer Warning Signs May Include Shoulder Pain

Liver Cancer Warning Signs May Include Shoulder Pain

Source: Fox News

Summary

Experts warn that unexplained shoulder pain could be a sign of a more serious problem, including liver cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, pain in the right shoulder blade has been linked to early signs of liver cancer. Mark Ashamalla, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Episcopal Health Services in New York, explained that liver cancer can cause pain that is felt in the right shoulder, even if the shoulder itself is normal. He listed clues that may indicate referred shoulder pain linked to liver cancer, including pain that does not fit the usual orthopedic pattern or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms.


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This guidance has been heard before.

Liver cancer often causes no early symptoms or only vague ones, making it challenging to diagnose. The American Cancer Society has reported a link between right shoulder blade pain and early signs of liver cancer. Experts emphasize that most shoulder pain is caused by ordinary things like muscle strain, arthritis, or poor posture. However, referred pain from the liver can be a warning sign. The advice sounds familiar: don’t panic about ordinary shoulder pain, but don’t ignore it if it’s persistent, unexplained, or comes with other red-flag symptoms.

It’s a reminder that health guidance often repeats and rebrands itself, and what’s considered a warning sign today may have been dismissed as ordinary yesterday.


Author: Evan Null