Liver cancer TREATMENT
Understanding
Liver Cancer
The liver is a large glandular organ situated under the ribs in the right upper quadrant of the belly. Its main goal is to protect the body from infections and other dangerous illnesses. Moreover, our liver creates bile juice to process lipids, vitamins, and other nutrients.
However, sometimes the liver processes can get impacted due to a serious medical condition called Liver Cancer which is the development and spread of uncontrolled cancer cells in the liver. It is caused by the formation of malignant cells called Hepatocytes. The presence of malignant cells is not always limited to the liver in cases of liver cancer. The cells may spread from the affected location to other body parts, including the breast, intestines, or even the lungs. When the liver becomes cancerous, the damage to the liver cells and disruption of its regular operations prevent the liver from making bile or filtering blood.
Cancer that starts in the liver is referred to as primary liver cancer, whereas cancer that spreads from other regions of the body to the liver is referred to as secondary or metastatic liver cancer.
Signs & Symptoms of Liver Cancer
Symptoms of liver cancer are hardly noticeable in the early stages. Some of the later-stage symptoms include:
- Anxiety, soreness, and tenderness in the abdomen.
- Change in the color of the skin and the white of the eyes causes jaundice.
- A sense of weakness and exhaustion.
- Discharge of white, chalky stools
- Bruising as a result of internal bleeding.
- Frequent episodes of vomiting.
- Persistent Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss without effort
What are the main causes of
Liver Cancer?
There are certain causes that are known to make liver cancer more likely to occur:
- Hereditary - The most frequent causes of primary liver cancer include birth abnormalities, severe infections brought on by Hepatitis B and C, Haemochromatosis (a condition handed down from grandparents that causes the liver to produce high amounts of iron), and Cirrhosis. Diseases like Hepatitis B and C and Hemochromatosis cause severe damage to the liver. These injuries cannot be repaired.
- Excessive Alcohol Drinking - The chance of developing liver cancer rises with prolonged heavy drinking.
- Obesity - Fatty liver disease and obesity are two additional significant risk factors for primary liver cancer.
- Aflatoxin Exposure - A form of mold that may develop on maize, cereals, and peanuts can create the poisonous chemical known as aflatoxin. One can contract cancer by eating these molds. This disease is quite uncommon.
- Smoking - The chance of developing liver cancer rises if you smoke cigarettes.
What are the
Different Types of Liver Cancer
There are various types of primary liver cancer. Each of them is linked to a specific region of the liver or a specific kind of liver cell that is affected. Following are some of the most prevalent primary liver cancers to take into account:
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) - This cancer grows in the primary liver cells known as hepatocytes. Hepatocellular carcinoma typically affects patients who have had liver damage as a result of alcohol addiction.
- Fibrolamellar HCC - This is an uncommon kind of liver cancer that responds better to therapy. It generally affects young individuals aged 20 to 40, with no gender preference.
- Cholangiocarcinoma - There are two types of bile duct cancer caused by this form of liver cancer: Extrahepatic and Intrahepatic. 10–20% of all liver cancers are caused by it.
- Angiosarcoma - It begins in the liver's blood vessels and spreads from there.
- Hepatoblastoma - Children under the age of three are frequently diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a very rare type of liver cancer.
- Secondary Liver Cancer - When cancer starts in one region of the body and travels to the liver later, it is referred to as secondary liver cancer.
Is it possible To Be Completely
Curved of Liver Cancer
In order to help patients live longer, medical professionals are making advances in treating Liver Cancer. Nonetheless, liver cancer continues to be a serious condition. More than 45 out of 100 patients with Stage 1 liver cancer will continue to live following their diagnosis for at least 4 years. On the other hand, approximately 5 out of every 100 persons with Stage 4 liver cancer will live for 4 years or longer after being diagnosed.
There is an effective liver cancer treatment through liver transplants, but not every patient in need of a transplant will be in good enough condition or be able to find a donor. Research has shown that individuals who have surgery to remove a portion of their liver survive longer than those whose disease precludes surgery.
Common Tests to
Diagnose Liver Cancer
The diagnosis of liver cancer and liver cancer treatment in India is based on a previous medical condition. Patients will need to go through a few tests to determine liver cancer if the persistent medical problem is tough to treat or has gotten worse. The following tests can help identify liver cancer:
- Blood Tests - The liver's function is determined by a blood test that measures the levels of liver enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin in the blood.
- Abdominal CT and MRI Scan - Imaging studies, such as CT and MRI scans of the abdomen, help in obtaining reliable pictures of the liver and other organs.
- Biopsy - A small amount of lung tissue is extracted under general anesthetic during a liver biopsy.
- Angiogram - This test allows doctors to evaluate the blood arteries in your liver. Your doctor will administer a dye injection into an artery during this test to track blood vessel activity and check for blockages.
What are the Treatments to Be
Used To Fight Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer is usually curable in its early stages; however, it might be challenging to treat in later stages. Your treatment plan will be determined by the following:
- Your liver cancer's size and kind
- Your state of wellness
- Your response to the treatments
Liver Cancer Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, the use of heat to eliminate cancer, targeted drugs, and radiation.
- Surgery - You might be able to have the liver cancer surgically removed if it is caught early, is tiny, and has not spread. Surgery will remove all or a portion of your liver. You will require a liver transplant if it is fully removed to replace your own liver with a donor's liver. It may take a while to fully recover after liver cancer surgery. All the advantages and disadvantages will be discussed by the expert staff caring for you.
- Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to destroy cancer cells. It is frequently administered into cancer's blood vessels in the case of liver cancer. Its goal is to stop the spread of cancer. This is referred to as chemoembolization. Chemoembolization is often used to help decrease cancer or to regulate and alleviate symptoms. This is done if you are too sick to have surgery or if cancer cannot be removed surgically.
- Thermal Ablation - Cancer is eliminated by thermal ablation utilizing microwaves or an electric current. Thermal ablation may be used to treat liver cancer if Liver cancer surgery is not an option due to illness or if surgery cannot remove the tumor.
- Radiotherapy - In radiotherapy, cancer cells are killed by radiation. Hepatocellular carcinoma is generally treated with a radiotherapy technique known as selective internal radiation treatment (SIRT). To prevent cancer from spreading, radioactive beads are put into your liver's bloodstream at this point. Having SIRT for liver cancer may be present if you're an adult and cancer cannot be surgically removed since your liver has not been severely affected.
- Treatment with Targeted Medicines - The goal of targeted treatment for liver cancer is to halt the spread of the disease. Using certain medications to treat liver cancer may be an option for you if:
- Either you are too ill to have surgery, or surgery cannot be used to eliminate cancer.
- Another area of the body has been affected by cancer.
- Palliative Care - In conjunction with other Liver cancer treatments, it is a supportive therapy that helps cancer patients navigate the discomfort, side effects, and stress associated with their course of treatment. When a cancer patient has advanced disease and does not want to continue with any medical treatments, supportive care is often recommended.
After Treatment
How to
Take Care of Your Body
To assess for recurrence of the disease, the doctor treating liver cancer will do routine physical examinations. The concerned doctor may choose to provide follow-up treatment through a series of physical exams, medical testing, or both approaches. As part of the tests, the doctor will look for any adverse treatment effects.
If you want to recover faster and safely after being discharged from the hospital, please follow the home care guidelines. Here are a few of them:
- Avoid contracting the Hepatitis B and C viruses.
- Regular Physiotherapy
- A healthy and well-balanced diet
- Cut back on Alcohol Consumption
What are the
Risks Factors for Liver Cancer
Doctors and researchers don’t fully understand why liver cancer affects so few people due to a number of circumstances. These are a few risk factors that, according to a study, raise the likelihood of developing liver cancer:
- Persistent infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- Certain hereditary liver conditions.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Aflatoxin Exposure
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption.
- Cirrhosis; a condition caused due to alcohol abuse and hepatitis C. It is an irreversible process that eventually leads to lung cancer.
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Paresh Vyas
Excellent facility with renowned Cardiologists like Dr Dharmesh R Solanki. Very humble doctors, and good staff. Value for money.
Meena Kothari
Excellent facility with renowned Cardiologists like Dr Dharmesh R Solanki. Very humble doctors, and good staff. Value for money.
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FAQs
Q. How long can a person live with liver cancer?
The likelihood of survival is quite strong if cancer is detected and treated in its early stages. Yet, if the problem is discovered while cancer is already advanced, survival is challenging. The 5-year relative survival rate is 36% for the 43% of patients identified with liver cancer at an early stage. Also, it’s essential to keep in mind that, depending on the pattern of living adopted, liver cancer may return following liver cancer operations.
Q. Does liver cancer spread quickly?
Depending on the kind of cancer, liver cancer can grow swiftly. Hemangiosarcoma and Angiosarcoma are the kinds of liver cancer that spread quickly, but Hepatocellular Carcinoma spreads later in the disease progression.
