Cancer that occurs in the liver is known as liver cancer. Your largest internal organ is the liver. It carries out a number of vital tasks that help your body’s wound healing, nutrition digestion, and waste removal. There are different types of treatment for people with liver cancer. The liver is located directly below your ribs in the upper right section of the abdomen. It is in charge of producing bile, a chemical that aids in the digestion of fats, vitamins, and other nutrients. The growth of liver cancer results in a breakdown of liver cells and affects the normal function of the liver.
In general, there are two types of liver cancer: primary and secondary. Liver cells are where primary liver cancer starts. When cancer cells from another organ metastasis, or proceed to the liver, secondary liver cancer results.
Types of liver cancer
Hepatoblastoma
One kind of cancer that occurs in the tissues of the liver is called hepatoblastoma. kids under three are primarily affected by this type of liver cancer, which is the most common among kids. Hepatoblastoma occurs by specific changes in the growth and division of liver cells into new cells.
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Aggressive (fast-growing) cancer is more common in those with severe liver disease, such as damage of the liver.
Cholangiocarcinoma
A rare condition known as bile duct cancer occurs when cancerous cells grow in the bile ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma is another name for bile duct cancer.The small intestine, gallbladder, and liver are linked via a system of tubes known as ducts. This network starts in the liver, where the liver generates bile—a fluid—to break down fatty acids during digestion, and collects it via multiple small ducts. A combination of the small ducts forms the left and right hepatic ducts, which come from the liver. A combination of the two ducts outside the liver creates the common hepatic duct.
Liver angiosarcoma
A rare dangerous kind of cancer called liver angiosarcoma occurs in cells that are important in the immune system’s response. It accounts for between 0.1 to 2% of all liver cancers, making it the third most common type.
Liver cancer diagnosis
Blood test: Blood tests may identify if you have infection with hepatitis B or C, if your liver works correctly, how well your blood clots, and whether you have any genetic issues. They can also look for particular substances called cancer markers.
Ultrasound: An ultrasound which generates images of the organ and may show the size and position of abnormal tissue in your liver, is the most often used technique to look for primary liver cancer.
CT scan: CT scans can help surgeons in planning surgery by generating three-dimensional images of many organs. It can also detect the spread of cancer.
MRI: An MRI scan may identify the size of a cancer and if it is harming the major blood vessels around the liver. It also creates accurate cross-sectional images of the body.
PET-CT scan: PET-CT scans, which are commonly used for secondary liver cancers, create three-dimensional color images that show the location of any cancers across the body.
Biopsy: A biopsy is the surgical removal of a small amount of tissue for microscopic inspection.
A biopsy can be done via laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), which takes place under general anesthesia and allows the doctor to view the liver and surrounding organs while also taking tissue samples using a laparoscope, or by fine needle aspiration, which uses a local anesthetic and a thin needle to remove the cells.
Liver cancer symptoms
When testing for a deeper illness, liver cancer is often found. Patients usually complain of liver disease-related symptoms, and when the cancer is looked into, it is identified.
If any of these symptoms continue for longer than two weeks make an appointment with a gastroenterologist:
- Abdominal discomfort or distention (enlargement)
- Weight loss
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (bleeding)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Persistent itching
- Fever
Treatment overview
The main treatments for liver-related cancer is:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy directly into the liver and cutting of the blood supply to the tumor.
- Bevacizumab and atezolizumab are examples of targeted cancer treatments.
- Radiotherapy
Risk factor for liver cancer
Heavy alcohol consumption- Regular consumption of alcohol can damage the liver and increase the risk of liver cancer.
Viral hepatitis B and C- Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mostly caused by the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. Currently, HBV-related HCC is more common in South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, but HCV-related HCC is more common in northern Africa and the western world.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease- A buildup of fat in the liver is an indicator of this type of disease.
Exposure to aflatoxins- These organisms that grow on wrongly stored crops release these poisons.
Anabolic steroids- Some athletes use male hormones called anabolic steroids to gain more muscle build and strength. The long-term usage of anabolic steroids may almost increase the risk of cancer of the liver.. This danger is not there with cortisone-like drugs such hydrocortisone, prednisone, and dexamethasone.
Liver cirrhosis- Liver cancer is more common in people with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs in some form in a lot of (but not all) patients who develop liver cancer.
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