What is Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer primarily targets liver cells. It is primarily the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is found in the major cells of the liver. It does have some others, such as cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), but the HCC is the most common one. The liver is an extremely vital organ in the human body, & any kind of cancer can completely ruin one's health. Liver cancer is late-stage in most cases since the liver is a resilient organ, & the patient will not feel the symptoms until the cancer is established or has already developed. Early detection & treatment are hence necessary in a bid to improve survival.
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
The symptoms of liver cancer are nonspecific & can quite easily go unnoticed.
Some of the symptoms to watch out for include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Pain or tenderness in the upper abdomen
- Swelling in the abdomen or legs
- Loss of appetite or feeling full after eating small amounts of food
- Weakness or fatigue
Since these symptoms also occur with other conditions, it is best to see a doctor if any of these do not go away.
Treatment for Liver Cancer
The treatment of liver cancer relies on several factors, including the type, location, & spread of cancer, & the patient's overall health.
The most common treatments used to manage liver cancer are the following:
- Surgery: Surgery is also a choice in the case of patients with early liver cancer & where the cancer is confined to one area of the liver, not having extended or metastasized anywhere else.
Liver Resection: In this procedure, the tumor & a margin of liver tissue around the tumor are excised. It is a perfect treatment if the liver is otherwise healthy & the tumor is localized.
Liver Transplant: Liver transplantation is an option in end-stage liver disease or a patient with an unresectable tumor. In surgery, the diseased medical tourism liver is replaced by the donor liver.
- Embolization & Ablation: Embolization & ablation therapies kill the cancer without the surgical removal of the liver tissue in patients who are not good candidates for surgery. These therapies are useful in patients who have very small tumors or who have a tumor in a position where the tumor cannot be surgically eliminated.
- Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiation can be used to reduce or manage liver cancer, but it is not a standard treatment for liver cancer because the liver is radiosensitive. However, radiation can be ordered for some patients, particularly if the cancer is small or has been nonresponsive to other treatments.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy that utilizes medications to kill cancer cells or inhibit them from growing. Though not a primary treatment for liver cancer, it is utilized in case the cancer has already extended beyond the liver or when other types of treatment fail. Chemotherapy medications are taken orally or intravenously & circulate throughout the entire body to find the cancer cells.
Conclusion
The treatment of liver cancer is a rapidly developing field in medicine, & there is a vast array of options depending on the site of the tumor, stage, & general health of the patient.
Multimodal therapy & early diagnosis with surgery, ablation, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, & immunotherapy can even improve outcomes. When you or your loved one is diagnosed with liver cancer, it is essential to discuss with physicians the most appropriate treatment. With ongoing research & new therapies, expectations of longer survival & quality of life for individuals with liver cancer are attainable.