Liver Cancer Symptoms Early
Most cases of primary liver cancer develop in people with cirrhosis due to alcohol, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. The exact cause of primary hepatic cancer is unknown. But researchers have identified several risk factors. Indeed, the most often develops in the liver already suffers from cirrhosis. This chronic disease produces the formation of fibrous tissue that prevents the normal functioning of the liver. It may be due to alcohol, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Repeated and prolonged consumption of alcoholic beverages is a major risk factor for cirrhosis and therefore primary liver cancer. Drinking glasses of alcoholic beverages a day, even if it does not cause dependence and hepatic cirrhosis, is also considered a risk factor.
Because it causes chronic inflammation of the liver, which can develop into cirrhosis, hepatitis B and C are also important risk factors for primary hepatic cancer. Highly contagious, hepatitis B virus is mainly transmitted by blood, sexual secretion, and breast milk. The current vaccine prevents contamination. The hepatitis C virus is mainly spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. Certain genetic diseases can also improve the development of primary hepatic cancer. This is a case of hemochromatosis, which produces excess iron in the body, but also the deficiency of antitrypsin alfa-1.
Life hygiene also plays a role. Thus, being overweight and obese can increase the excess fat in the liver. In fact, this metabolic disorder can cause excess fat in the liver: it is a liver disease without fatty alcohol. It can promote the development of liver cancer. However, the relationship between obesity and liver cancer is not as clear as other types of cancer, such as breast or pancreas. For lower levels, smoking is also associated with an increased risk of primary liver cancer.
Liver Cancer Symptoms Early Stages
Liver cancer symptoms early stages - Without symptoms marked at the onset of the disease, liver cancer may remain silent for a long time. Here are the signs that should not be ignored, especially in cases of the proven liver disease. In general, liver cancer is manifested by a significant decrease in weight, loss of appetite, nausea, pain in the upper abdomen or even a mass detected in palpation. Therefore, these symptoms require medical advice and, if necessary, additional tests.Take care of all this: these symptoms are not typical liver cancer and may be present in many conditions. Only doctors have the right to diagnose. In subsequent stages of the disease, other signs may occur: accumulation of fluids with abdominal swelling, increased pain, confusion, tremor, jaundice in the skin and eyes. Again, only doctors, through examination, will be able to determine whether these signs are related to cancer, other hepatic impairment or other diseases.
How is liver cancer diagnosis? More tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis of liver cancer and to assess the extent of the disease. In the presence of symptoms that indicate liver damage, the doctor will prescribe ultrasound, to identify possible nodules and blood tests. This blood test or liver function test can highlight any inflammation and can measure the AFP level in the blood. AFP or Alfa-fetoprotein is a protein synthesized by certain liver tumors. Blood tests also follow the measurement of prothrombin and albumin. The insufficient levels of this protein, produced naturally by the liver, may be a sign of dysfunction.
In the case of anomalies, a further examination is necessary for the confirmation or rejection of the presence of cancer, for characterization and determination of enlargement. The Doctor can guide the treatment options. The doctor will use imaging to clarify his diagnosis. MRI and/or CT and CT can be added to ultrasound. This radiology exam provides a more detailed picture than traditional X-ray movies. A biopsy may also be programmed. This sample of liver cells uses a very fine needle to diagnose.
Liver Cancer Treatment Options
Liver cancer symptoms early stages - Primary hepatic cancer management is not the same as metastatic cancer. In all cases, a therapeutic decision is taken during a multidisciplinary consultation meeting, in which the Doctor discusses the best treatment to be applied on the basis of recommendations of good practice.1. Treatment of primary hepatic cancer: (a) If the tumor is small and localized, the surgeon will continue to partially remove the liver. The destruction of radiofrequency tumors is also an alternative. This fairly new technique consists of spreading heat through implanted electrodes that come in contact with the tumor. (b) If the tumor is large or spread in several parts of the liver, the total elimination followed by the transplant may be considered.
But operations are not always possible. If the tumor develops in the already ill liver, as often happens, there is a risk that the tissue may not be sufficient to allow the organ to regenerate and function normally after partial removal. Chem Embolization then remains a therapeutic reference. This will help slow down the development of tumors and extend the patient's life. Performed under local anesthesia by a radiologist, this procedure involves injecting chemotherapy drugs directly into the liver, blocking the blood supplying the tumor (embolization). Alternatively, radiation therapy (destruction of X-ray tumors) is also intended to slow the progression of cancer.
2. Treatment of metastatic cancer: treatment of liver metastases is as far as possible locally. This is mainly based on operations. A very complete evaluation is done to make the correct mapping of metastases and to determine whether the patient can benefit from surgery or not. Only 10% of patients can be a direct operation. Others receive chemotherapy to reduce the size or number of liver metastases so that the operation can be performed. During the procedure, the surgeon shall ensure that no other lesions are identified by the initial assessment. Then remove the metastases with a safety margin, if possible, from an inch.
The development of radiofrequency or interventional radiology also makes it possible to intervene that has not been thought of before. This method is possible to remove the liver lobes with a lot of metastases and to maintain other lobes that will only metastasize. This is then destroyed without damaging the patient through the heat emitted by the electrodes planted during surgery.
Further progress, targeted therapy. These molecules, such as cetuximab and bevacizumab, block the growth of certain cancerous tumors. To do this, interact with the molecular objectives that are needed for tumor growth. It all depends on the nature of the tumor, which is why many research aims to develop new therapies targeted.
Conclusions symptoms of early liver cancer: The amount of metastatic liver cancer, a secondary tumor localized in another organ, is 20 to 50 times higher than the number of primary cancers. Alcohol is the main cause of primary hepatic cancer. Primary prevention of liver cancer requires a better lifestyle (alcohol consumption moderate, balanced, without tobacco) and protection against hepatitis B virus (vaccination, protected sex) and hepatitis C. Primary and secondary hepatic cancer may be Treated through all the therapeutic arsenal Against cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. Each of these strategies is beneficial from constant progress, always leading to better effectiveness for fewer side effects.