Why does liver cancer cause jaundice?

Bilirubin is a yellow pigment made when old red blood cells are broken down. The liver normally processes it and passes it into bile, which travels through bile ducts to the intestine. A tumour can affect liver tissue or press on nearby bile ducts, slowing this route. Bilirubin then accumulates in the blood and can colour the whites of the eyes and skin yellow.

Jaundice is a common presentation of Liver Cancer. It also has many other liver, bile-duct and blood-related causes, so jaundice needs medical investigation rather than assumptions about the cause.

Contact a clinician promptly if your eyes or skin turn yellow. Note when it started and whether you have dark urine, pale stools, itching, abdominal discomfort, fever, nausea or reduced appetite. Avoid alcohol and avoid starting herbal products or non-prescribed medicines until a clinician or pharmacist has checked they are appropriate for your liver. Testing may include blood tests and imaging to look at the liver and bile ducts.

Get urgent medical help for jaundice with fever or chills, severe upper abdominal pain, confusion, marked drowsiness, repeated vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down. These symptoms can signal a problem that needs rapid treatment. Seek prompt advice too if jaundice develops quickly or becomes more noticeable over a short time.

Ask what may be blocking bile flow and whether imaging is needed to identify the site. Discuss how liver blood tests will be interpreted and what symptoms should trigger same-day contact. If cancer is already known, ask whether jaundice changes the treatment plan or whether a procedure could improve bile drainage.