liver cancer symptoms – diagnosis and treatment

Liver cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Are you suffering from liver diseases? Are your common symptoms similar to the Liver cancer symptoms? Well, located towards the right side of the body, just below the ribs, liver is one of the most essential body organs in our system. Liver removes toxins and impurities from the blood as well as helps in digestion. Cancer in the liver may be caused due to the spreading of cancer cells from the other part or organ of the body. Another reason of liver cancer may be the mutation of liver cells themselves. Liver cancer is also known as hepatocellular cancer.

Causes of liver cancer

Hepatitis B infection, Hepatitis C infection, liver cirrhosis, too much consumption of alcohol, aflatoxin, drugs, medications and chemicals, diabetes, obesity are all common causes of liver cancer.

Liver cancer symptoms

• Noticeable loss of weight that cannot be explained
• Being ill/sick
• Loss of appetite
• Discomfort or pain in abdomen
• Swollen abdomen
• Feeling bloated after eating even small meal
• High temperature and sweating
• Jaundice, dark colored skin, pale colored feces
• Itching
• Nausea and vomiting

The Liver cancer symptoms which appear in the initial stage are variable. There are no such specific symptoms of liver cancer. And, the symptoms which are observed in early stages can be mistaken for simple worsening of cirrhosis and liver function.

Diagnosis of Liver cancer

The following are the test performed in the initial stage:

Blood test for liver function test, scanning methods like ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan, biopsy, laparoscopy are some of the methods to diagnose liver cancer.

Further tests for liver cancer are performed to know whether it has spread in other parts or not. These further tests include hepatic angiograpy and X-rays. Hepatic angiography aids to see the arteries that supply blood to the liver and check for the tumor if any.  X-ray of lung is also taken because liver cancer can sometimes spread to the lungs.

Treatment for liver cancer

According to stages of liver cancer treatment has to be given. Till now the only proven cure for liver cancer is liver transplantation.

Below given are the therapies for treating liver cancer:

• Chemotherapy which attacks cancer cells
• To freeze and destroy cancer cells – cryosurgery
• Radiation therapy to attack cancer cells
• Surgery to remove the cancer

Other complementary treatments are:

• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Yoga

If surgery is not possible then there are several other options like alcohol injection and radiofrequency thermoablation. Avoid alcohol is the first level of prevention. And other is to prevent the occurrence of Hepatitis B and C.

Secondly, if an individual is suffering for liver cirrhosis timely transplant of liver can prevent from developing it into cancer.