And this sign strikes once the liver starts failing and building up bile, according to the doctor.
Liver cancer is a silent enemy, often remaining undetected until its advanced stages due to its subtle onset.
Remarkably, there are nearly 17 new liver cancer diagnoses every day, emphasizing the need for symptom awareness.
Dr. Romesh Angunawela, an esteemed ophthalmic surgeon and co-founder of OCL Vision, alerts us to one possible early warning sign of liver cancer that might be visible in our eyes.
A Sign You Shouldn’t Ignore
In the initial stages of liver cancer, Dr. Angunawela explains, no noticeable symptoms would be seen in the eyes.
However, as the disease worsens, liver failure may occur, leading to jaundice and consequent yellowing of body tissues, including the skin and the whites of the eyes.
The eyes’ white part “can begin to take on a yellow hue and this increases with greater levels of jaundice.”
This indication was also underscored in a case study published in The Eurasian Journal of Medicine, which examined a female patient with liver cancer.
The research team noted that jaundice is observed in approximately 19 to 40 percent of patients suffering from this deadly disease.
Dr. Angunawela explains this symptom emerges when the liver begins to falter and bile starts to accumulate.
He says, “The key function of the liver is to filter all of the blood in the body and break down substances such as alcohol, drugs and metabolic waste products.
“The liver also produces bile, a fluid that helps digest fats and carry away waste. Accumulation of bile in a failing liver increases levels of bilirubin in the blood and tissue leading to jaundice. This causes yellow pigmentation of tissues including skin and the whites of the eyes.”
Should you observe this symptom, Dr. Angunawela advises you to immediately reach out to your primary care physician and voice your worries.
Even though jaundice doesn’t conclusively signify liver cancer, it’s crucial to have it medically examined.
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