Secondary cancer in the liver is cancer that started in another part of the body but has spread (metastasised) to the liver.
Most cancers can spread to the liver, but the most common ones start in the digestive system (large bowel, pancreas, oesophagus and stomach). Digestive cancers often spread to the liver because blood containing cancer cells from the digestive organs passes through the liver first and can lodge there.
Melanoma and cancers of the breast, ovary, kidney and lung can also metastasise to the liver.
Secondary cancer in the liver is sometimes found at the same time that the primary cancer is diagnosed. However, this isn't always the case:
It can be diagnosed soon after the primary cancer, or it may be diagnosed months or years after someone has been treated for primary cancer.
It may be diagnosed before the primary cancer is found. If other tests don't show what the primary cancer is, this is called cancer of unknown primary (CUP). This is uncommon.
If you have secondary cancer in the liver, it may be useful to read information about the related primary cancer, or about CUP if the primary cancer is unknown. Call Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 to get a free copy of these publications sent to you.