Overview – Liver Cancer
Liver cancer, as the name suggests, is the cancer that begins in the liver cells. There are many types of cancers associated with the liver, out of which, hepatocellular carcinoma is the most commonly found cancer. A cancer is termed liver cancer only when it starts in the liver, other cancers that have spread to the liver over the time are known as metastatic cancer. Unfortunately, an overview of liver cancer will tell you that cancers that spread to the liver from other organs are more common than the cancers that start in the liver.
Causes of liver cancer
Liver cancer happens when liver cells mutate their DNA. One of the outcomes of this process is that cells start growing rapidly resulting in a single tumor or multiple tumors. It is very difficult to understand the causes of liver cancer. Not every case comes with a reason but one very common reason is an infection by a type of hepatitis virus. Following are some of the high risk factors associated with liver cancer-
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HBV or HCV
A chronic infection caused by hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus increases the risk of liver cancer.
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Cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis is a progressive and irreversible condition, which increases the chance of getting liver cancer.
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Inherited liver diseases
Inherited liver diseases increase a person’s chance of suffering from liver cancer. Two of these diseases are hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease.
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Diabetes
People suffering from high blood sugar are more prone to suffering from cancer as compared to people who do not have blood sugar.
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Fatty liver
A fatty liver is prone to cancer.
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Exposure to aflatoxins
Aflatoxins are molds that grow on crops stored in poor conditions. These are poisonous chemicals that increase the risk of liver cancer.
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Excessive alcohol
Alcohol can be very harmful for the liver. It can lead to irreversible liver damage and tremendously increases the risk of liver cancer.
Symptoms and overview of liver cancer
The most unfortunate fact about liver cancer is that most people do not experience any symptoms in the early stages of cancer. The symptoms start showing after the disease has progressed to a certain level. Some of the most common symptoms are-
- Losing weight abruptly without trying
- Upper abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal swelling
- White chalky stools
- Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes
- General weakness and fatigue
How is liver cancer detected?
A person with the above mentioned symptoms is believed to have liver cancer. To further confirm the diagnosis and the stage of cancer, doctors undertake a few procedures that give them an overview of liver cancer.
- Blood tests
- Imaging
- Liver biopsy
Liver cancer is a dangerous disease because in most cases it is not detected in the early stages. Even when detected on time and treated, liver cancer might not get treated completely and needs frequent follow-ups. It is best to consult a doctor before making any decision.
