A “devastated” nurse has bravely spoken out about the four warning signs that led to her liver cancer diagnosis, in a bid to raise awareness. At just 39 years old, Marissa Antonio was diagnosed with the disease when doctors discovered a 19cm tumour; her daughter was only 19 months old at the time.
She chose to share her experience to highlight the symptoms that prompted her to seek medical help. .
Cancer Research UK has shockingly revealed that liver cancer death rates have doubled over the last two decades. Back in the late 1990s, the disease caused around 2,200 deaths annually, but this number has now soared to 5,800, positioning liver cancer as Britain’s fastest-rising cause of cancer mortality.
The mum was juggling night shifts as a nurse when she first noticed troubling symptoms, initially attributing them to simple exhaustion. The alarming signs included pain on her right side, unusual tiredness, finding blood in her urine, and persistent difficulties keeping food down.
Marissa discussed her journey with YaleNewHavenHealth: “My husband and I had been trying to conceive for almost five years, and our daughter finally was here and I was too sick to take care of her,” reports Surrey Live.
Unexplained weight loss can be a symtom of liver cancer
(Image: Getty Images)
She continued, disclosing her ordeal: “It was two years before I felt well enough to do so. I am so thankful to my husband and my father for stepping up to care for her when I could not.”
Following treatment in the United States which involved chemo-embolisation that shrunk the tumour by 90%, Marissa eventually had the tumour completely removed through surgery. However, her battle with the liver cancer, known as hepatocellular carcinoma, saw further complications when it recurred with a new growth appearing on her lung.
Marissa, a radiology nurse who faced her own health battle, underwent surgery to remove a benign lesion and two small growths before suffering a lung collapse. When further growth was found, making surgery unviable, she turned to radiation therapy, which eventually led to the tumour being deemed safe.
Reflecting on her journey to recovery, Marissa shared: “I feel like God has put me here to be with these patients as they go through a similar journey.”
She added, “My faith played a crucial role in my recovery, and helped me through the dark times. I hope that I can be that support for someone else.”
Despite grim mortality statistics in the UK, it’s estimated that up to half of liver tumours could be avoided by adopting healthier lifestyles. Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, emphasised the need for immediate action, stating: “These stark figures highlight the urgent need for action to address the rising toll of liver cancer deaths.”
The NHS listed some liver cancer symptoms to look out for
(Image: Getty Images)
She continued, “Liver cancer is often preventable, with the majority of cases linked to an underlying liver condition. It is a devastating diagnosis with sadly only 13% of people surviving for five years.”
Marissa also suspected that her mother might have been a carrier of Hepatitis B, a known risk factor for liver cancer. The NHS warns that symptoms of liver cancer may not be apparent or can be hard to identify.
However, the NHS does provide a list of potential symptoms to be aware of.
Warning signs include:
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the whites of your eyes turning yellow or your skin turning yellow, which may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice) – you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
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loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
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feeling tired or having no energy
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feeling generally unwell or having symptoms like flu
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a lump in the right side of your tummy
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feeling or being sick
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pain at the top right side of your tummy or in your right shoulder
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symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling full very quickly when eating
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a very swollen tummy that is not related to when you eat