Liver Cancer

Liver Cancer Liver cancer is a cancer that originates in the liver. Liver cancers are malignant tumors that grow on the surface or inside the liver. Liver tumors are discovered on medical imaging equipment (often by accident) or present themselves symptomatically as an abdominal mass, abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea or liver dysfunction. Liver cancers should not be confused with liver metastases, which are cancers that originate from organs elsewhere in the body and migrate to the liver.

Liver Cancer Symptoms Abdominal pain or tenderness, especially in the upper-right part Easy bruising or bleeding Enlarged abdomen Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)

Liver Cancer Signs and tests Physical examination may show an enlarged liver. Abdominal CT scan Liver MRI Abdominal ultrasound Liver biopsy Liver enzymes (liver function tests) Serum alpha fetoprotein

Liver Cancer Treatment Aggressive surgery or a liver transplant can successfully treat small or slow-growing tumors if they are diagnosed early. However, few patients are diagnosed early. Chemotherapy delivered straight into the liver with a catheter can help, but it will not cure the disease. Radiation treatments in the area of the cancer may also be helpful. However, many patients have liver cirrhosis or other liver diseases that make these treatments more difficult.

Liver Cancer Prevention Since hepatitis B or C is one of the main causes of liver cancer, prevention of this infection is key to then prevent liver cancer. Thus, childhood vaccination against hepatitis B may reduce the risk of liver cancer in the future. In the case of patients with cirrhosis, alcohol consumption is to be avoided.