A strange ache in your shoulder might not be a gym injury or bad posture - it could be something far more serious, doctors have warned. Experts say a persistent “phantom” pain in the right shoulder can sometimes be a little-known warning sign of liver cancer, even when the arm itself feels completely normal. The disease is one of the fastest-rising in the UK, yet its symptoms are often vague and easy to dismiss.

Around 6,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year in the UK, and rates have risen by more than 40% over the past decade, making it one of the fastest-growing cancers in the country.

Dr Jiri Kubes, medical director at the Proton Therapy Center, said the pain is often misunderstood and easily dismissed. “Liver cancer can sometimes cause what we call referred or phantom pain, where discomfort is felt in the shoulder rather than the abdomen,” he explained. “This happens because the liver sits close to nerves that connect to the shoulder, so irritation can be felt elsewhere in the body.”

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The pain is typically felt on the right-hand side and may come and go, making it easy to brush off as muscular. Dr Kubes added that many patients assume it is caused by exercise or posture, especially if they are otherwise fit and active.

Liver cancer is now one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer death in the UK, with lifestyle factors playing a major role in the increase. The biggest risk factors include long-term alcohol use, obesity and fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C infections, and smoking. Many cases are linked to underlying liver damage that develops silently over years.

Dr Kubes said: “The challenge with liver cancer is that symptoms can be very subtle at first, which is why people often ignore them or put them down to something harmless.”

The good news is that many cases are considered preventable. Maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and protecting against hepatitis infections can all help reduce risk.

Other warning signs to watch for include feeling full quickly, unexplained weight loss, swelling in the abdomen, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Because liver cancer is often diagnosed late, recognising these early - and sometimes unexpected - symptoms could be life-saving.