Liver cancer as a primary or metastatic liver cancer, is a fairly rare form of cancer in the Western world (1% of all cancers) but much more common in Africa and parts of Asia (10% to 50% of all cancers). It is much more common in men and increasing incidence with age. Liver cancer is rapidly fatal, usually within 6 months from gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic failure or metastasis.
Types of live CANCER
Most primary liver tumors, hepatoma (primary liver cell carcinoma and lower cell carcinoma) are known. Some primary liver cancer in the bile duct origin, and these are known as cholangiomas. Some rare liver cancers include Kupffer cell sarcoma and hepatoblastomas (which occur almost exclusively in children and are usually respectable and curable). Metastatic liver cancer is 20 times more common than primary liver cancer and liver cirrhosis after it is the leading form of liver related death.
Signs and symptoms
Liver cancer usually cause no symptoms until it is at an advanced stage.
Clinical effects of advanced liver cancer include:
1st A mass in the upper right side.
2nd Tender, nodular liver on palpation
3rd Severe pain in the stomach or upper right
4th Weight loss, anorexia, weakness, fever
5th Occasional jaundice or ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity)
CAUSATION
The exact cause of liver cancer is unknown in adults but in children it may be a genetic disease. Adult liver carcinomas may result from environmental exposure to carcinogens such as mold, contrast media (oral no longer in use), androgens and estrogens, which causes hepatitis B virus or extended by damage to the liver by cirrhosis from too much alcohol to absorb.
DIAGNOSIS
Liver cancer is difficult to diagnose in the presence of cirrhosis, but several tests can help identify it: The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT or MRI) and increased blood levels of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, electrolyte studies to sodium retention, a liver biopsy may be increased to provide a definitive diagnosis.
TREATMENT
Treatments for primary liver cancer on the extent (stage) of disease, age, overall health, feelings and personal preferences from. Surgery is the most effective treatment for primary liver cancer, but this is not always possible because of the size or location of the tumor. Radiofrequency ablation is an option for people with small, unresectable hepatocellular tumors and for some types of metastatic cancer of the liver. While this process is the hepatic artery (the artery from the liver derive their blood supply) is blocked, and chemotherapy drugs are injected between the blockage and the liver. Cryoablation may be an option for people with inoperable primary and metastatic tumors of the liver. Removing the whole liver and replacing it with a liver from another person is another possible form of treatment for primary liver cancer.
Although treatments can fail to offer much improvement caused by the liver cancer itself, pain and other symptoms of liver cancer can be treated aggressively to improve the quality of life. In general, the available treatments for children are the same as for adults, and the best approach depends on the stage and type of cancer and the child’s age and general health.
PROGNOSIS
The prognosis is poor when cancer is advanced, but for small tumors that are confined to the liver, ablative therapies are palliative and surgical resection or liver transplantation is sometimes curative.