Liver cancer
Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver. There are 5 main types. The type depends on the type of cell that the cancer started in.
Primary liver cancer is different to cancer that spreads to your liver from somewhere else in your body. This is called secondary liver cancer or liver metastases.
Last reviewed: 18 Mar 2025
Next review due: 17 Mar 2028
Liver cancer is a cancer that starts in the liver. You might hear it called primary liver cancer.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They might refer you for tests or to a specialist if you have symptoms that could be caused by liver cancer.
Your treatment for liver cancer depends on the stage of your cancer and how well your liver is working. The most common treatments are surgery, heat treatment, drug treatments and radiotherapy.
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and how far it’s spread. It helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.
Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver. This section is mainly about the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Secondary liver cancer is when a cancer that started somewhere else in the body has spread to the liver. It is also called liver metastases.
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