Liver Cancer - Treatment & Symptom
Most cases of liver cancer are actually cancers that started in another organ. It occurs as metastatic cancer, which happens when tumors from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver. It can be cured only when found at an early stage (before it has spread) and only if the patient is healthy enough to have an operation. Hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver (medical terms pertaining to the liver often start in hepato- or hepatic from the Greek word for liver, hepar ). The cancer grows along the bile ducts in sheets or lines,and is hard to find on X-ray studies. The cause of secondary cancer in the liver is always a primary cancer somewhere else in the body. The liver is shaped like a pyramid and is divided into right and left lobes. Unlike most other organs, the liver receives blood from 2 sources. Hepatocellular carcinoma, also called malignant hepatoma, is a primary form of liver cancer that originates in the hepatocyte cells of the liver. It is also known as primary liver cancer or hepatoma.
There are two types of primary liver cancer (hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular cancer), based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Many cases of liver cancer are metastatic liver cancer. Cancer of the bile duct cells is called cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma originates in the bile ducts and is often caused by infestation with the liver fluke Clonorchis (a parasite). In the United States, most cancer found in the liver spread there after originating elsewhere. Because liver cancer is rarely discovered early and is difficult to control with current treatments, the prognosis is often poor. The exact cause of primary liver cancer is unknown, but risk factors include viral hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, alcohol use, exposure to toxins and intake of anabolic steroids. Treatment options of HCC and prognosis are dependent on many factors but especially on tumor size and staging . Treatment of liver cancer may involve surgery, interventional radiological procedures, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Causes of Liver Cancer
The comman causes and risk factor of Liver Cancer include the following:
- Once cause of liver cancer is exposure to vinyl chloride.
- Chronic liver disease as a result of a variety of alcoholic, viral and metabolic liver diseases, can lead to liver cell cancer.
- Physical conditions, such as obesity or diabetes.
- High iron collections within the liver.
- Fungal diseases from ingested foods.
- Males predominantly affected.
- Inherited metabolic diseases that affect the liver.
- Primary liver cancer is most common among people who have hepatitis B or C (viral infections of the liver) or cirrhosis of the liver (growth of scar tissue on the liver).
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
Some sign and symptoms related to Liver Cancer are as follows:
- Enlarged liver with lumps.
- Tenderness and pain are present.
- Malaise, loss of weight, lack of appetite.
- Fluid in the abdomen (ascites) giving the abdomen a bloated appearance.
- A yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Low grade fever and anemia.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- A bloated feeling after eating.
- Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right part of your abdomen, that may extend into your back and shoulder.
Treatment of Liver Cancer
Here is list of the methods for treating Liver Cancer:
- Liver transplant is the treatment of choice.
- Chemotherapy to kill leukemia cells using strong anti-cancer drugs.
- A drug called Interferon alfa-2b (brand name: Intron A) is used to treat chronic hepatitis B or C.
- Interferon therapy to slow the reproduction of leukemia cells and promote the immune system's anti-leukemia activity.
- Additional local therapies that may be of some usefulness include microwave coagulation therapy, interstitial laser therapy, laproscopic guided cryosurgery and focused sonography.
- Radiation therapy can destroy cancer cells and reduce a tumor's size by directing high-dose radiation directly to the liver.
- Surgery to remove an enlarged spleen or to install a venous access device (large plastic tube) to give medications and withdraw blood samples.
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