Liver cancer can develop in anyone, but it is more common in people with certain risk factors, such as chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, chronic infections with hepatitis B or C viruses, and a family history of liver cancer. It is also more common in people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol, and in those who are obese or have type 2 diabetes.
Table of Contents
What is liver cancer?
Liver cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of your liver. The liver is a football-sized organ located in the upper right quadrant of your belly, under the diaphragm and above the stomach.
Liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a type of cancer that starts in the liver. The liver is an organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen, and it is responsible for a number of important functions, including filtering toxins from the blood and producing bile to help digest food.
Symptoms for Liver cancer
Symptoms of this can include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), and swelling in the abdomen. However, these symptoms are often non-specific and can be caused by other conditions, so a doctor’s evaluation is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
In the early stages of primary liver cancer, most persons have no symptoms. When signs and symptoms do occur, they may include the following:
Losing weight without making an effort
Appetite loss
Upper abdominal discomfort
Vomiting and nausea
General tiredness and weakness
Swelling in the abdomen
Your skin and the whites of your eyes are yellow (jaundice)
Stools are white and powdery.
Causes for Liver Cancer
This develops when the DNA of liver cells changes (mutates). The DNA of a cell is the substance that contains the instructions for every chemical action in your body. Changes in these instructions are caused by DNA mutations. As a result, cells may begin to proliferate uncontrollably, eventually becoming a tumor – a clump of malignant cells.
The etiology of liver cancer is sometimes known, such as in chronic hepatitis infections. However, this can occur in persons who have no underlying illnesses, and it is unknown what causes it.
Diagnosis
The following tests and methods are used to diagnose this:
Blood tests are performed. Blood testing may identify problems in liver function.
Imaging examinations Your doctor may advise you to undergo imaging tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
Taking a liver tissue sample for examination. In order to get a definitive diagnosis of this, a bit of liver tissue must sometimes be removed for laboratory testing.
Your doctor will put a small needle through your skin and into your liver to acquire a tissue sample during a liver biopsy. Doctors analyze the tissue under a microscope in the lab to check for cancer cells. A liver biopsy might result in bleeding, bruising, and infection.
How to reduce Risk factors
Cirrhosis is liver scarring that raises the risk of this. Cirrhosis risk can be reduced if you:
Drink alcohol sparingly, if at all: If you choose to drink alcohol, keep your consumption to a minimum. This implies no more than one drink each day for ladies. This implies no more than two drinks each day for guys.
Keep a healthy weight: If your present weight is healthy, aim to keep it that way by eating well and exercising most days of the week. If you want to lose weight, cut back on the number of calories you consume each day and increase your physical activity. Aim for a gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds each week.
Treatment
Treatment for this typically involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The type of treatment that is most appropriate will depend on the stage and location of cancer, as well as the overall health of the patient. In some cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.
The following tests and methods are used to diagnose this:
The degree (stage) of the illness, as well as your age, overall health, and personal preferences, all influence treatment options for primary liver cancer.
Surgical procedures used to treat this include:
The tumor was surgically removed. If your tumor is tiny and your liver function is normal, your doctor may prescribe a procedure to remove the cancer and a small part of the healthy liver tissue that surrounds it.
The location of your cancer inside the liver, how well your liver operates, and your general health all influence whether this is a choice for you. Transplantation of the liver. Your damaged liver is removed during liver transplant surgery and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. Only a limited number of persons with early-stage liver cancer have the option of undergoing liver transplant surgery.
Conclusion
Transplantation of the liver. Your damaged liver is removed during liver transplant surgery. Cancer that spreads to the liver is more prevalent than cancer that starts in the cells of the liver. Metastatic cancer, rather than liver cancer, is cancer that develops in another part of the body, such as the colon, lung, or breast, and then spreads to the liver. This form of cancer is termed by the organ in which it first appeared, such as metastatic colon cancer, which refers to cancer that originates in the colon and travels to the liver.
Overall, this is a serious and potentially deadly condition, but early detection and treatment can improve the chances of a successful outcome. It is important for people with risk factors for this to discuss their risk with their doctor and to undergo regular screening to detect the disease in its early stages.