Liver Cancer

Overview

Liver cancer occurs when the cells of the liver tissue become cancerous. Liver cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world. Liver cancer is the highest among Asians because of the large number of hepatitis patients. Liver is one of the most vital internal organs in the body. A healthy liver removes impurities from the blood and produces enzymes to digest food. Some recent research has shown that a low-fat diet may protect the liver against malignant cancer.

Types

There is only one type of liver cancer, although it can have different symptoms in adults and children. Liver cancer can develop as a primary liver cancer, which begins in the liver cells. This form of liver cancer is usually referred to as hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma. In case it is undetected or untreated, cancer cells usually spread to lymph nodes, bones and lungs. Cancer that spreads in this manner is known as a secondary liver cancer or a secondary tumor.

Symptoms

Liver cancer is often referred to as the silent disease because there are no symptoms in the early stages. By the time a patient starts experiencing pain, the cancer has already progressed to the advanced stage. Some of the common symptoms of advanced liver cancer include weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness or feeling extremely tired, nausea and vomiting, fever, jaundice, (yellowing of skin and eyes and dark-colored urine), feelings of fullness, abdominal bloating, inflammation of liver, fibrosis and abdominal pain on the right side of the body which can extend to the shoulders.

Causes/Risk Factors

There are no direct indications for the cause of liver cancer. However, some of the risk factors when combined create an even greater risk for developing liver cancer. Some of the most common risk factors for liver cancer include a chronic liver infection such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, consuming foods that are contaminated with aflatoxin (poisonous mold that grows on grains and nuts which are improperly stored). People with a family history of liver cancer and those above the age of 60 years are more prone to liver cancer.

Tests/Diagnosis

There are various techniques and tests available to diagnose liver cancer. The most important aspect is to get these tests done at an early stage, whether symptoms are present or not. The presence of symptoms indicates an advanced stage of cancer after which it is difficult or impossible to treat. Some of the tests that aid the diagnosis of liver cancer include ultrasound, angiogram, laparoscopy, biopsy, computed tomography (CT) scan and blood tests to detect alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels.

Treatment

Treatment options for liver cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and precutaneous ethanol injections. However, these treatments are dependent on the stage of the cancer, the size of tumors and the patient's health and age.