When diagnosed with primary liver cancer, most patients are naturally anxious to learn about the severity of their disease—in other words, the stage of liver cancer they have. The cancer stage provides an indication of the disease's outcome and the types of treatment that may be necessary. Being well-informed about liver cancer stages can help patients prepare for what is to come physically, mentally and emotionally. It is also important to know about the severity of background liver disease, which is often present in conjunction with cancer.