What is Liver Cancer ?
When unhealthy cells grow and spread in the liver than it results in liver cancer. Primary liver cancer begins in the liver. Metastatic liver cancer is the cancer that spreads to the liver through some other organ.
Liver cancer includes some common benign tumors such as –
- Leiomyoma
- Hemangioma
- Fibroma
- Hepatic adenoma
- Cysts
- Focal nodular hyperplasia
- Lipoma
Types of Liver Cancer
Hepatoblastoma: A rare type of liver cancer is usually seen in children. The early detection of this cancer can offer about 90% of survival rate.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): This is considered as the most primary liver cancers that start from hepatocyte cells. They can begin at multiple spots in the liver or can also start as a single tumor. Hepatocellular carcinoma begins in multiple spots in the liver in those people who have liver damage.
Hemangiosarcomas and Angiosarcomas: They are considered as the fast growing liver cancers that start in the blood vessels in the liver. They can only be diagnosed when they are in their advanced stages.
Fibrolamellar HCC: This is considered as rare and can be effectively treated as compared to other types of liver cancer.
Bile Duct Cancers (Cholangiocarcinomas): This type begins in the bile duct that is small tubes carrying bile to the gallbladder.
Causes of Liver Cancer
- Diabetes may raise the risk of liver cancer in those people who have viral hepatitis or who drink heavily.
- Cirrhosis can also cause liver cancer. Hepatitis C and chronic alcoholism are responsible for causing cirrhosis.
- Obesity can also increase the risk of liver cancer
- Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B long-term infections are associated with liver cancer as they often result in cirrhosis. Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer without cirrhosis.
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
- Internal bleeding
- Ascites is the condition where there is build-up of fluid around the intestines and liver
- Weight loss
- Clay-colored bowel movements
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- A hard lump just below the rib cage
- Nausea
- Pain in the abdomen or back or around the right shoulder blade
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Jaundice
Stages of Liver Cancer
Stage 1: There is the presence of only one tumor in the liver in this stage.
Stage 2: Here also in the second stage, one tumor is present that has spread to the blood vessels. There could also be more than 1 tumor that is of about 5cm.
Stage 3: In the third stage, only one tumor is present that is bigger than 5cm. It could also be possible that the cancer has moved beyond the liver to lymph nodes, blood vessels or to another organ.
Stage 4: At this last stage, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body that include bones or lungs along with lymph nodes or blood vessels.
Diagnosis of Liver Cancer
Physical examination helps in determining symptoms or lumps that may suspect the presence of liver cancer. Some of the other tests that are performed for diagnosing liver cancer include –
- Laparoscopy: A thin tube is used for observing liver and other organs within the abdominal cavity. A laparoscope can also be used along with a biopsy.
- Blood Tests: The blood tests also include liver enzymes and a serum marker test. The measurement of some substances associated to cancer can be done by performing serum marker test. An underlying liver problem is indicated with the help of liver enzymes.
- Angiogram: The injection of a dye is done into an artery that shows tumors and liver tissues.
- Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves from the body are transmitted by this procedure.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A computer, large magnet and radio waves are produced in this test that provides clear images of the human body.
- Computed Tomography (CT scan): This test also provides detailed images of the organs.
Treatment of Liver Cancer
Percutaneous ethanol injection, surgery and chemotherapy are the three methods for treating liver cancer. Some of the surgical treatments include –
- Total Hepatectomy and Liver Transplant : Here in this procedure, the entire liver is removed and is replaced with another healthy liver from an organ donor.
- Partial Hepatectomy : In this procedure, a part of the liver is removed that ranges from a small wedge to an entire lobe.
- Radio Frequency Ablation : This procedure uses a probe along with electrodes for killing cancerous tissue.
Chemotherapy
Anti-cancer drugs are used in chemotherapy for destroying cancer cells or preventing them from reproducing. Chemoembolization of the hepatic artery is another type of chemotherapy used for treating liver cancer. In this the chemotherapy drugs are combined with another substance in order to block the artery. The aim is to destroy the tumor blood and then applying chemotherapy directly to the tumor.
Percutaneous ethanol injection
During this therapy, ethanol is injected into a tumor for destroying the cancer. This therapy is not used frequently.