Signs of Liver Cancer

The liver is a glandular organ located beneath the diaphragm, in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It performs various tasks that are vital for the healthy functioning of the human body. These include secretion of bile, metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, synthesis of certain proteins and detoxification of the body. An unhealthy lifestyle can affect the functioning of the liver and give rise to serious liver diseases. Liver cancer, which is also known as hepatic cancer, one of the deadliest diseases that affect the liver. The liver is made of various types of cells and tissues, out of which liver cells known as hepatocytes constitute about 80% of the liver tissue. When an abnormal and uncontrollable cell division or mutations in hepatocytes causes the development of malignant growth, one is said to suffer from hepatocellular carcinoma or primary hepatic cancer. When the cancer doesn't originate in the liver and spreads to the liver from the surrounding organs, one is diagnosed with secondary or metastatic hepatic cancer. The signs of liver cancer are generally not present in the early stages. Most of the time, symptoms of this disease become evident only after the cancer reaches an advanced stage.

Causes

The exact causes have not been identified yet, but medical research has revealed certain risk factors for this serious liver disease. Alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of medical conditions affecting the liver function. Excessive consumption of alcohol for a prolonged period of time is one of the common causes of scarring of liver tissue, a condition medically referred to as liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis is one of the common risk factors. Cancerous growth in liver could also develop when an alcoholic with severe liver cirrhosis quits alcohol. When the liver cells regenerate to undo the damage caused due to drinking, mutations in the liver cells could occur. Chronic liver infections such as hepatitis B and C might also increase the risk. Exposure to aflatoxin B1, a carcinogen found on a mold called Aspergillus flavus, or use of anabolic steroids and certain drugs for a prolonged period of time might also make one susceptible to this liver disease. Besides these factors, genetic disposition or family history might also play a role. Certain medical conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis, fatty liver disease, sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis might also put one at an increased risk of developing cancerous growth in the liver.

Symptoms

As mentioned earlier, the signs of this disease might not be very conspicuous during the early stages. The signs of cancer of the liver might also be variable. These could also be similar to symptoms of some of the other medical conditions. The early signs might include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or loss of appetite. Children can also get affected by this disease. An early onset of puberty is one of the common symptoms of hepatic cancer in boys. Since early symptoms might seem very similar to the symptoms of an upset stomach, people often ignore them and this is why such a serious disease remains undetected. Only when other complications start developing, people think about seeking medical help. Given below are the signs that are experienced in advance stages.

• Severe right-sided abdominal pain
• Jaundice
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Ascites
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Abdominal swelling
• A feeling of fullness
• Enlarged liver

Treatment

Since the symptoms of the cancer of the liver generally appear at a later stage, it is often referred to as a 'silent disease'. If one seems to be experiencing the aforementioned symptoms, one must not waste any time. Doctors generally conduct blood tests and other imaging procedures such as a liver ultrasound, CT scan, MRI or a liver biopsy to formulate a diagnosis. If diagnosed at an early stage, the spread of the cancer might be less and surgery can be employed to remove the malignant growth. Other treatment options involve chemotherapy, cryotherapy, radio frequency ablation and radiation therapy. In severe cases, a liver transplant might be recommended. The treatment basically depends on the age and overall health of the patient. Factors that affect the life expectancy is the type of cancer one is suffering from and the stage of cancer. An early detection can help in slowing down the progression of the disease and thus, help in prolonging the lifespan of the patient. It is, therefore, important that the signs and symptoms of this liver disease are not ignored. A proper evaluation of the symptoms with the help of diagnostic tests will surely give the patient a chance of living the rest of his/her life in a better way.

Since the signs of this liver disease are not very conspicuous at the onset of this disease, the chances of a delayed diagnosis are very high. It is, therefore, important that people refrain from indulging in excessive consumption of alcohol or any other activity that might make one susceptible to this fatal disease.