LIVER CANCER (OR) Hepatocellular Carcinoma - LIVER CIRRHOSIS - Causes - Signs Symptoms - Treatment
LIVER CANCER (OR) Hepatocellular Carcinoma - LIVER CIRRHOSIS - Causes - Signs Symptoms - Risk Factors - Tests & Diagnosis - Drugs & Treatment - Latest Advancements in Liver Cancer Treatment 2024
Liver cancer is Cancer that begins in the cells of your liver. Your liver is a football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath your diaphragm and above your stomach.
The most common form of Liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other types of cells in the liver can develop Cancer, but these are much less common.
Not all Cancers that affect the liver are considered Liver cancer. Cancer that begins in another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic Cancer rather than Liver cancer. And this type of Cancer is named after the organ in which it began — such as metastatic Colon cancer to describe Cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.
SYMPTOMS
Most people don't have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary Liver cancer. When signs and symptoms do appear, they may include:
.Losing weight without trying
.Loss of appetite
.Upper abdominal pain
.Nausea and vomiting
.General weakness and fatigue
.Abdominal swelling
.Yellow discoloration of your skin and the
whites of your eyes (jaundice)
.White, chalky stools
CAUSES
It's not clear what causes most cases of Liver cancer. But in some cases, the cause is known. For instance, chronic infection with certain Hepatitis viruses can cause Liver cancer.
Liver cancer occurs when liver cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA — the material that provides instructions for every chemical process in your body. DNA mutations cause changes in these instructions. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a Tumor — a mass of Cancerous cells.
RISK FACTORS
Factors that increase the risk of primary Liver cancer include:
Chronic infection with HBV or HCV. Chronic infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases your risk of Liver cancer.
Cirrhosis. This progressive and irreversible condition causes scar tissue to form in your liver and increases your chances of developing Liver cancer.
Certain inherited Liver diseases. Liver diseases that can increase the risk of Liver cancer include Hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease.
Diabetes. People with this blood sugar disorder have a greater risk of Liver cancer than do people who don't have Diabetes.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. An accumulation of fat in the liver increases the risk of Liver cancer.
Exposure to aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are poisons produced by molds that grow on crops that are stored poorly. Crops such as corn and peanuts can become contaminated with aflatoxins, which can end up in foods made of these products. In the United States, safety regulations limit aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin contamination is more common in certain parts of Africa and Asia.
Excessive alcohol consumption. Consuming more than a moderate amount of alcohol daily over many years can lead to irreversible liver damage and increase your risk of Liver cancer.
Obesity. Having an unhealthy body mass index increases the risk of Liver cancer.
TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosing Liver cancer.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose Liver cancer include:
Blood tests. Blood tests may reveal liver function abnormalities.
Imaging tests. Your doctor may recommend imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
TREATMENTS AND DRUGS
Liver cancer treatment options may include:
Surgery to remove a portion of the liver. In certain situations, your doctor may recommend partial hepatectomy to remove the Liver cancer and a small portion of healthy tissue that surrounds it if your Tumor is small and your liver function is good.
Whether this is an option for you also depends on the location of your Cancer within the liver.
Liver transplant surgery. During liver transplant surgery, your diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. Liver transplant surgery is only an option for a small percentage of people with early-stage Liver cancer.
Freezing Cancer cells. Cryoablation uses extreme cold to destroy Cancer cells. During the procedure, your doctor places an instrument (cryoprobe) containing liquid nitrogen directly onto liver Tumors. Ultrasound images are used to guide the cryoprobe and monitor the freezing of the cells.
Heating Cancer cells. In a procedure called radiofrequency ablation, electric current is used to heat and destroy Cancer cells.
Injecting alcohol into the Tumor.
Injecting chemotherapy drugs into the liver.
Radiation Therapy.
Targeted drug therapy.