What should you know about melanoma liver cancer?

The liver filters blood and receives blood from the digestive system, so tumour cells from another part of the body can sometimes reach it. Liver involvement may cause no symptoms at first. Possible symptoms include tiredness, reduced appetite, discomfort under the ribs on the right, nausea, swelling of the abdomen or yellowing of the skin and eyes. These signs have many causes and do not establish melanoma.

Blood tests and imaging help assess liver function and identify areas that need closer review. The team may compare scans with previous melanoma records and may recommend a biopsy when the diagnosis or origin is unclear. The number, size and position of liver lesions, other sites of disease and your general health all influence the care plan.

Share new abdominal symptoms, appetite changes or yellowing with your oncology team. Bring scan reports and a complete medicine list, including supplements. Treatment may involve medicines that circulate through the body, such as [Immunotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/immunotherapy/) or [Targeted Therapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/targeted-therapy/), when suitable for the melanoma. For selected liver deposits, the team may discuss [Liver Resection](/treatments/surgical-oncology/liver-resection/) or [Tumour Ablation](/treatments/surgical-oncology/tumour-ablation/). Supportive care can address pain, nausea, nutrition and activity.

Seek urgent medical help for new confusion, vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal pain, rapidly increasing abdominal swelling, fainting or yellowing with fever. Contact your oncology team promptly for worsening pain, inability to keep fluids down, very dark urine or a marked change in alertness. Take your medication list and tell staff about the melanoma diagnosis.

Ask whether the liver finding is confirmed as melanoma, what the scans show about other organs, whether a biopsy is needed and how liver function affects treatment choices. Ask whether local treatment is appropriate, how response will be monitored and which symptoms should trigger a same-day call.