How to Diagnose Liver Cancer

Although primary liver cancer (cancer that begins in the tissues of the liver) is reputed to be the most common types of cancer in the world, it is uncommon in the US. However, in recent times, incidences of this cancer have been increasing and another interesting fact is, in most people in the US, liver cancer is caused by a cancer that has metastasized from other parts of the body. Meaning, in most people, their liver cancer might have been caused by the cancer that begun in the lungs, or colon. While for some, the cancer might have spread to the liver from the breast. This is known as secondary liver cancer. This disease tends to affect twice as many men as women, making it one of the most common types of cancer in males.

Symptoms

Cancer holds a reputation to be asymptomatic in its early stages, and so does the condition of primary liver cancer. Only when it has progressed to an advanced stage, it starts showing signs and symptoms, the common ones of which may include:

• Unintended weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Nausea/vomiting
• Pain in the upper abdominal region
• Persistent weakness
• The abdomen may appear swollen
• Jaundice

Now most of these symptoms may mimic those of other medical conditions. So self diagnosing such indications as those of cancer, would be a tough call. And that is why, true diagnosis can only be made at the doctor's.

Medical Tests to Diagnose Liver Cancer

When you visit a doctor, he would try to understand the different symptoms you are experiencing, and probably, about your medical history and that of your family, as well. Having done that, he may recommend tests and diagnosis to detect what's troubling you. Basically, there are three tests that helps in diagnosing if liver cancer is present. These include blood tests, imaging tests, and a liver biopsy.

Starting with blood tests, it is one of the common diagnostic tools for detecting many liver abnormalities. One of such test is to detect the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). If this level is found to be high, then it could be a possible sign of a liver cancer.

Coming to imaging tests, this primary liver cancer diagnosis method involves tests such as ultrasound, CT scan (computerized tomography scan), and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Ultrasound uses the principle of ultrasound waves. When these waves are fed into the body, they are bounced off internal organs thus, producing echoes. Now, the echoes that are produced by tumors are different from other healthy tissues in the body. With the help of CT scan, the doctor is able to view the pictures of tumors growing in the liver, or elsewhere in the abdominal region. Even MRI helps in creating pictures of the areas inside the body. And biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue from the liver, and examining it under a microscope to look for possible cancer cells.

As aforementioned, one cannot rely on symptoms when it comes to diagnosing a condition such as cancer. However, once they appear and seem persistent, it is better to go for medical tests and rule out potential problems.