Living with Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma
A rare liver cancer in children, found most often in older children and teens.
Understanding Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma
It is usually found in older children and teens (ages 10 to 14), though it has been found in children younger than 5. Symptoms can include a belly mass, a swollen and painful belly, weight loss, poor appetite, and yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Belly pain
- Enlarged liver
- Vomiting
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Scarring of the liver (fibrosis)
- Blood clot in a liver vein (portal vein thrombosis)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists and digestive system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Blue Faery The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Cancer specialists (oncologists); Digestive system specialists (gastroenterologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Blue Faery The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Blue Faery The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says the cause is not well understood. Liver problems such as hepatitis B, and inherited liver conditions such as tyrosinemia type 1, may raise the risk.
Also known as: childhood carcinoma of the liver cell; childhood hepatocellular carcinoma; childhood-onset hcc; childhood-onset hcc (hepatocellular carcinoma); childhood-onset hepatocellular carcinoma; paediatric carcinoma of the liver cell
Patient organizations
- Blue Faery The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer AssociationPediatric hepatocellular carcinoma · United States
- American Cancer SocietyPediatric hepatocellular carcinoma · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma.
Explore research for Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma
Explore actively recruiting Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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