HomeAnswersMedical oncologyliver metastasisWhat could be the reason for the pain in the liver of my 60-year-old mother?

Can a benign lesion on the liver metastasize and cause severe pain in my 60-year-old mother?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At June 22, 2022
Reviewed AtJune 22, 2022

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My mother had severe pain in the liver about three weeks ago, and she had breast cancer two to three years ago and was treated by mastectomy, radiation, and estrogen blockers. She did not have jaundice, vomiting, blood in stools, swelling of the limbs, and bruising. They achieved clear margins and a normal mammogram last year. She never had any liver problems, and I am worried about hepatitis C. Before the treatment, they said that the lesions on the liver were benign. So that brings me to three weeks ago, she had severe pain in that area and went to the emergency room (ER). They did a computed tomography (CT) scan and said it had metastasized because of the inflammation and enlargement of the liver. However, she had an abdominal X-ray two weeks prior, and there was no evidence of issues. Does pain from metastasis and inflammation usually happen abruptly or lessen over time? Since then, the pain is still there, but significantly less than when it first appeared. What is the likelihood of this being a metastasis or something serious? She is 60 years old now and has no other related health issues. She will visit her oncologist tomorrow, but I wanted some reassurance from you. She has not had any sign of jaundice, and no abnormality was seen in her blood test.

Answered by Dr. Rajesh Gulati

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Pain from metastasis can happen abruptly or slowly develop and lessen over time. If the scan suggests metastasis, the disease has progressed, so she needs to change her hormonal medications, or even a low dose of chemotherapy can be given. If scans confirm metastasis, the next line of treatment can be started. Otherwise, I suggest ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from liver lesion to confirm the diagnosis. Meanwhile, pain killers can be increased to control pain.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Rajesh Gulati
Dr. Rajesh Gulati

Family Physician

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Medical oncology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy