Liver cancer is a rare type of cancer and only makes up around two percent of all cancer diagnoses in Switzerland. Each year there are around 820 new cases. The tumours found in the liver are more commonly metastases from other types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer. Liver cancer primarily affects older people (50 years and over) and men suffer from liver cancer more frequently than women.

The liver is located on the right side of the upper abdomen. Its primary functions are the detoxification of the body and the production of numerous proteins (e.g. proteins that are vital for blood clotting and healing wounds). Both liver cancer and metastases in the liver caused by other types of cancer exhibit no symptoms or only non-specific symptoms for a long time.