Liver Cancer

Liver cancer (scientifically also known as hepatocellular carcinoma) is a disease that occurs when benign or malignant tumor forms in liver and later spreads to other organs of the body. Liver conducts a vital function in human body as it breaks down and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestine, controls clotting factors needed to stop bleeding from a cut or injury, actively participates in removing toxic wastes from the body. Formation of tumor in the liver can damage entire functionally of the body systems and it often becomes life threatening. Liver cancer is categorized in two main kinds which are primary liver cancer and metastasized liver cancer. In primary liver cancer, tumor forms in liver and later gradually develops to other parts of the body whereas in metastasized liver cancer, tumor or cancerous cell forms and develops in other parts of the body and travels to liver. Heptoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, Klatskin tumor, Angiosarcoma, Lymphomas, Carcinoids are some other sub types of liver cancer.

The causes which may increase the risk and threat of liver cancer are- hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection cirrhosis of the liver and liver flukes (parasites), exposure to vinyl chloride (a toxic chemical compound frequently used in manufacturing), using certain types of fungi (aflatoxin), chronic alcohol consumption, excessive smoking, diabetes mellitus, anabolic steroids, and arsenic.

Early liver cancer does not show any symptoms but as the cancer enlarges, it reflects some symptoms like- Loss of appetite and weight, abdominal pain(especially in the upper right part), Nausea and vomiting, general weakness, fatigue, an enlarged liver, abdominal swelling(ascites), yellow discoloration of skin and the whites of eyes(jaundice), confusion, dark-colored urine and internal bleeding.

Physician stars treatment of liver cancer after the proper diagnosis through the various tools and techniques. Thereafter process of treatment depends up on the extent (stage) of the disease as well as age of patient, overall health, feelings and personal preferences. The goal of treatment is to prevent the tumor from growing or spreading as well as to reduce the symptoms and to eliminate the cancer completely. Surgical procedure is most popular & widely performed for the treatment of liver cancer. Some other procedures which are performed besides the surgery or in combination with surgery are- alcohol injection in tumor, radiofrequency ablation (electric current in the radiofrequency range is used to destroy malignant cells), chemoembolization, cryosurgery or cryotherapy (using extreme cold to destroy cancer cells), radiation therapy (using high-powered energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors), chemotherapy, liver transplantation, sorafenib (Nexavar).

At the end, treatment of liver cancer does improve quality of life and a healthy physical fitness.