Liver Cancer

Liver

The Liver  is the largest internal organ, weighing about 1.3 kg and is located on the right side of the belly. It is reddish-brown in color and feels rubbery when touched. Normally, we cannot feel the Liver  as it is located deep inside the body and is protected by the rib cage. The Liver , gall bladder, pancreas and the intestine together process the food for digestion and absorption. Furthermore, the Liver  is the most important organ for detoxification of toxins (chemicals) and for metabolism of drugs. The Liver  secrets bile juice and is also responsible for the production of proteins responsible for clotting. Liver  is sectioned into two large portions, the right and the left lobes.

Also know more about : Uterine Cancer

Functions:

The Liver  is one of the vital organs of the body, responsible for hundreds of chemical actions necessary for life. It is also cited as a gland since it secretes digestive enzymes.

  • It synthesizes multiple chemicals required by the body to function normally.
  • It breaks down and detoxifies the nutrients. Some nutrients must be metabolized in the Liver  before they can be used.
  • It also acts as a storage unit for glycogen, iron, copper and fat-soluble vitamins (especially A, D and B12)
  • The Liver  generates proteins important for blood clotting that protects us from bleeding too much when there is a cut or injury.
  • It secretes bile into the intestines to help absorb fats.
  • It breaks down alcohol, drugs, and toxic wastes, which are then excreted in urine and stool.

Liver Cancer

Liver  Cancer is a condition that happens when the normal life cycle of the cell is interrupted and instead of dying they keep growing uncontrollably and forms a tumor. This tumor may be restricted only to the Liver  (benign tumor) or the Cancer cells may spread to other parts of the body (malignant tumor).

Liver  Cancer is the third most frequent cause of Cancer death.

Types of Liver  Cancer

Types of Benign Liver  Cancers

Benign tumors are usually small, however sometimes they may grow large enough to cause problems, but they do not spread to nearby tissues or distant parts of the body. Surgery is the most preferred treatment option for such type of Cancer.

Hemangioma: It starts in the blood vessels and is the most common type of benign Liver  tumor. In most cases, no symptoms are spotted and treatment is also not essential. However, in some cases, the tumor may bleed and need to be removed surgically.

Hepatic adenoma: Hepatic adenoma begins in the main type of Liver  cell (hepatocytes). Usage of certain drugs like birth control pills or anabolic steroids may increase the risk of getting this tumor. Adenomas may shrink when the drugs are stopped. In most cases of hepatic adenoma, symptoms are not evident and treatment is also not needed. But, some of the tumors may eventually cause symptoms like pain or blood loss. Also, there is a risk that the tumor could rupture and could eventually develop into Liver  Cancer; hence surgery is recommended to remove the tumor when possible.

Focal nodular hyperplasia: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a tumor-like growth made up of several cell types. Although FNH tumors are benign, it can be hard to tell them apart from true Liver  Cancers, and doctors sometimes remove them when the diagnosis is unclear.

Types of Primary Liver  Cancer

Cancer that starts in the Liver  is called primary Liver  Cancer. Some of the primary Liver  Cancers are discussed below:

Hepatocellular Cancer: This is the most common form of Liver  Cancer in adults. Malignant Cancer cells are called hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC) can have different growth patterns but the prognosis remains almost the same.

  • It may begin as a single tumor that eventually grows larger. In later stages, it may start spreading to other parts of the Liver .
  • It may start as many small Cancer nodules throughout the Liver . This is seen most often in people with cirrhosis (chronic Liver  damage).

Fibrolamellar It is a rare type, making up less than 1% of HCCs. This type is most often seen in women younger than age 35, and often the rest of the Liver  is not diseased. This subtype generally has a better outlook than other forms of HCC.

Cholangiocarcinoma: Cancer that arises in the small bile ducts within the Liver  is called cholangiocarcinoma. It accounts for 10 to 20 % of Liver  Cancers.

Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma: These are very rare, fast growing and almost incurable Cancers that begin in cells lining the blood vessels of the Liver .

Exposure to vinyl chloride or thorium dioxide increases the risk of developing these Cancers. Other factors which may be responsible for these Cancers are exposure to arsenic or radium. In about half of the cases, no likely cause is identified.

These tumors grow quickly and are usually too widespread to be removed surgically by the time they are found. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may help slow the disease, but these Cancers are usually very hard to treat. 

Hepatoblastoma: This is a very rare kind of Cancer that develops in children, usually younger than 4 years old. The cells of hepatoblastoma are similar to fetal Liver  cells. It can be treated successfully with surgery and chemotherapy. However, the tumors are harder to treat if they have spread outside the Liver .

Metastatic Liver  Cancer

Cancer that has originated in some other part of the body and has spread to the Liver  is called metastatic Liver  Cancer. Liver  metastases are very common in many types of Cancers, especially in case of GI tract Cancer, breast, lung and pancreas. Though, theoretically, any Cancer can spread to the Liver .

Occurrence rate

Occurrence rate liver cancer

India accounts for the country with lowest Cancer incidence rates in males among all the Asian countries. Among the 9,48,858 total number of Cancer cases registered in India, 20,144 cases contributed to Liver  Cancer. The mean incidence of Liver  Cancer is 2.77% for males and 1.38% for females. The prevalence of Liver  Cancer in India varies from 0.2% to 1.6%. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most prevalent etiologic factor in high incidence areas, while hepatitis C (HCV) infection is the most common in the low incidence areas

liver cancer

Copyright © Terese Winslow, U.S. Govt, The above image is used for educational purpose only.

Liver  is located deep inside the body and hence usually the signs and symptoms of Liver  Cancer can’t be felt until the later stages of the disease. However, in some cases it can be detected earlier. Some of the most common symptoms of Liver  Cancer are:

  • Unaccounted weight loss and loss of appetite.
  • Vomiting
  • An enlarged Liver  
  • Pain and swelling in the abdomen
  • Jaundice
  • High blood calcium levels – hypercalcemia, that causes nausea, confusion, constipation, weakness, or muscle problems
  • Low blood sugar levels – hypoglycemia, which can cause fatigue.
  • Breast enlargement – gynecomastia and/or shrinkage of the testicles in men
  • High counts of red blood cells – erythrocytosis which can cause someone to look red and flushed
  • High cholesterol levels

Some other symptoms include fever, enlarged veins on the belly that can be seen through the skin, and abnormal bruising or bleeding. But many of the signs and symptoms of Liver  Cancer can also be caused by other conditions and experiencing any of these do not ascertain Liver  Cancer. Still, if any of these problems is spotted it’s important to consult a doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated if needed.

There are several factors that might be responsible for the development of Cancer. Since the Liver  filters blood from all parts of the body, Cancer cells from elsewhere can lodge in the Liver  and start to grow. The causes of Liver  Cancer may also be linked to environmental, dietary, or lifestyle factors.

A recent study involving 140 patients, hepatitis B was the most common cause of Liver  Cancer affecting as many as 56 (39%) patients, followed by alcohol which affected 31 (22%) patients. T he prevalence of diabetes was found to be 25% in Liver  Cancer patients. 

Some such risk factors are listed below:

  • Anabolic steroids: These steroids are specially used by athletes and weight lifters. However, regular use can raise the risk of developing Liver  Cancer considerably. 
  • Cirrhosis: This is a condition in which Liver  cells are damaged and are replaced with scar tissue. People with cirrhosis of the Liver  have a higher risk of developing Liver  Cancer. 
  • Diabetes: People having diabetes, especially if they also have hepatitis, or regularly consume a lot of alcohol, are more likely to develop Liver  Cancer. 
  • Vinyl chloride and thorium dioxide (Thorotrast): Exposure to these chemicals raises the risk of angiosarcoma of the Liver . It also increases the risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular Cancer, but to a far lesser degree. Vinyl chloride is a chemical used in making plastics. Thorotrast is a chemical that in the past was injected into some patients as part of certain x-ray tests.
  • Arsenic: Drinking water contaminated with arsenic over a long period of time increases the risk of Liver  Cancer.
  • Infection with parasites: Infection with the parasite that causes schistosomiasis can cause Liver  damage and is linked to Liver  Cancer.
  • Family history: Any track record of the disease in the family raises an alarm.
  • L-carnitine deficiency
  • Obesity: Being overweight is harmful to health. It may cause several issues including Liver  Cancer.
  • Smoking: This factor needs no justification. The package comes with a clear warning and reading the package gives enough information about this.
  • Alcohol: While limited use of alcohol causes no harm, excess consumption is very harmful.

Most cases of Liver  Cancer could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes such as avoiding excess alcohol, having protected sex and getting vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus. A few measures to prevent Liver  Cancer are:

Preventing hepatitis infections

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus is the most significant risk factor for Liver  Cancer. These viruses can spread from person to person through contaminated needles or unprotected sex. Thus some cases of Liver  Cancer may be prevented by taking care of these things.

Limiting alcohol and tobacco use

Heavy consumption of alcohol damages the Liver  thus increasing the risk of developing Liver  Cancer. Limiting or avoiding alcohol may help in avoiding Liver  Cancer. Smoking increases the risk of developing many Cancers including Liver  Cancer, thus saying no to smoking is a smart move.

Maintaining healthy weight

Avoiding obesity is another way to protect Liver  Cancer. People who are obese are more likely to have fatty Liver  disease and diabetes, both of which have been linked to Liver  Cancer.

Limiting exposure to Cancer-causing chemicals

Maintaining and implementing health and safety standards to protect consumers and workers from certain chemicals offers shielding to Liver  Cancer.

Staging is important to understand the severity, spread and probability of cure of the disease. Once the type of Cancer is diagnosed, a stage is assigned that helps in planning the treatment for the disease.

Liver  Cancer is categorized into four stages:

  • Stage 1 – The spread of the tumor is limited to the Liver .
  • Stage 2 – Either there are several small tumors, within the Liver , or one tumor that has reached a blood vessel
  • Stage 3 – either there are various large tumors, or there is just one that has reached the main blood vessel(s). Cancer may have also reached the gallbladder
  • Stage 4 – The Liver  Cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Survival rate of Liver Cancer is determined by analyzing and studying the cases of patient’s having the same disease at the same stage. However, these rates cannot predict precisely the probability of cure or survival of any patient, as each patient is unique and their survival depends on a lot of other factors like immunity, response to treatment, health record etc. These statistics of survival rate is just a reference to understand the severity and criticality of the disease. Below are some details on the survival rate for 5 years:

  • Localized i.e. stage I, II or some cases of III where the Cancer is still confined to the Liver  and has not spread outside of it. The 5-year relative survival rate for localized Liver  Cancer is about 31%.
  • Regional i.e. stage IIIC and IVA, where Cancer has grown beyond the Liver  and into nearby organs or has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The 5-year survival rate for this stage is about 11%.
  • Distant i.e. stage IVB, means that the Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues. The 5-year relative survival rate for distant stage Liver  Cancer is about 3%.

Hepatitis B-related cases have extremely poor prognosis with median survival less than 16 months—36% to 67% after one year and 15% to 26% after five years of diagnosis

Due to the asymptomatic nature of these infections, about 60% of infected individuals remain unaware until they show symptoms of cirrhosis or Liver  Cancer which may take over 20 years. Both cirrhosis and Liver  Cancer are irreversible and cause death.

It is often hard to find Liver  Cancer early because signs and symptoms often do not appear until it is in its later stages. Small Liver  tumors are hard to detect on a physical exam because most of the Liver  is covered by the right rib cage. By the time a tumor can be felt, it might already be quite large.

For people at higher risk of Liver  Cancer due to cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B infection, some experts recommend screening for Liver  Cancer with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood tests and ultrasound exams every 6 to 12 months. Ultrasound uses sound waves to take pictures of internal organs.

Once a suspicion of Liver  Cancer arises, a physician will order one the following to confirm a diagnosis:

Blood tests: Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein present in the blood, whose presence may be elevated in patients with Liver  Cancer. But looking at AFP levels isn’t a perfect test for Liver  Cancer. Many patients with early Liver  Cancer have normal AFP levels. Also, AFP levels can be increased from other kinds of Cancer as well as some non-Cancerous Liver  conditions.

Imaging studies: The best way to detect Liver  Cancer is through surveillance ultrasound of the Liver  done every 6 months in a patient with a diagnosis of cirrhosis. As with most forms of Cancer, it is best to treat the Liver  Cancer as soon as it is detected.

Liver  biopsy is performed to by extracting sample tissues from the Liver , which are then analyzed under a microscope to look for Cancer cells. But Liver  biopsy is not the most preferred option as it carries several risks like infection, bleeding, or seeding of the needle. Seeding is when Cancer cells get on the needle used for a biopsy and spread to other areas touched by the needle. Liver  biopsy of suspected Liver  Cancer carries the added risk of seeding the Liver  biopsy needle track in 1% to 3% of cases.

HCC screeningx – high risk individuals for HCC should have regular screenings for Liver  Cancer. Liver  Cancer, if not diagnosed early is much more difficult to remove. The only way to know whether you have Liver  Cancer early on is through screening because symptoms are either slight or non-existent. 

The medical treatment chosen depends on how much Cancer has spread and the general health of the Liver .

Surgery: Surgery is one of the most common treatment options if the Cancer is small and is limited to some part of the Liver .

Liver  transplant: In this procedure, the Cancerous Liver  of the patient is removed and is replaced with a healthy Liver  from another person. It is usually used in cases where the Cancer cells are unresectable.

Ablation therapy: In this procedure the Cancer cells in the Liver  are killed without any surgery. Heat, laser, or injecting a special alcohol or acid directly into the Cancer are used to kill the Cancer cells. This technique may be used in palliative care when Cancer is unresectable.

Embolization: Blocking the blood supply to Cancer can be done using a procedure called embolization. This technique uses a catheter to inject particles or beads that can block blood vessels that feed Cancer. Starving the Cancer of the blood supply prevents the growth of the Cancer. This technique is usually used on patients with large Liver  Cancer for palliation.

Radiation therapy: Radiation uses high-energy rays directed to the Cancer to kill Cancer cells. Normal Liver  cells are also very sensitive to radiation. Complications of radiation therapy include skin irritation near the treatment site, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a technique that kills Cancer cells by the use of drugs given either orally or by injections. Complications of chemotherapy include fatigue, easy bruising, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, swollen legs, diarrhea, and mouth sores. These side effects are usually temporary.

Targeted Agent: Sorafenib (Nexavar) is an oral medication that can prolong survival (up to 3 months) in patients with advanced Liver  Cancer. Side effects include fatigue, rash, high blood pressure, sores on the hands and feet, and loss of appetite

A complete curable treatment of Liver  Cancer is quite difficult. Also, in most of the cases of Liver  Cancer, the detection is delayed till later stages, where Cancer has spread to different organs.  While Liver  Cancer is usually difficult to cure, treatment consists of chemotherapy and radiation. In some cases, surgical resection or Liver  transplantation is performed.

People with a high risk of Liver  Cancer are recommended to visit the doctor in every 6 months for regular screening tests that might help in the early detection of this silent disease.

Being aware of the symptoms, and any health issue that might indicate the presence of the disease needs to be examined thoroughly. Also, going for screening tests might unveil the  presence of the disease in an early stage thus making treatment easier.

To know more : Liver Cancer

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