Let’s Talk About Liver Cancer
Liver cancer occurs when cells in the liver begin to grow out of control and affect the structure and function of the liver and decrease your overall quality of life.
The liver
The liver is the largest internal organ, lying under your right ribs just beneath your right lung. Its functions include:
- Breaking down and storing nutrients in the body
- Clotting blood
- Breaking down alcohol and other toxic wastes in the blood
Different kinds of liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer in adults. It usually begins as a single tumor that starts in the liver and then grows larger. The second type of HCC seems to start as many small cancer nodules throughout the liver, not just a liver tumor. This is seen most often in people with cirrhosis (chronic liver damage) and is the most common pattern seen in the United States.
Metastatic liver cancer is when cancer is found in the liver it did not start there but has spread (metastasized) from somewhere else in the body, such as the pancreas, colon, stomach, breast, or lung. Because this cancer has spread from its original (primary) site, it is called secondary liver cancer and can affect your overall health.
Screening
To diagnose liver cancer, doctors recommend screenings to catch it in its early stages. Screening for liver cancer is primarily recommended for adults at increased risk because they have a higher chance of getting the disease. Common screening tests for liver cancer include:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Liver CT
- Liver MRI
- Bone scan
- (AFP) blood test
Symptoms
Common symptoms of liver cancer include:
- Weight loss (without trying)
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling very full after a small meal
- Nausea or vomiting
- An enlarged/swollen liver felt as fullness under the ribs on the right side
- An enlarged spleen felt as fullness under the ribs on the left side
- Pain in the abdomen (belly) or near the right shoulder blade
- Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen (belly)
- Itching
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Treatment
There are many different types of liver cancer treatment. The treatment plan that’s best for you will depend on:
- The stage and grade of your cancer
- The chance that a type of treatment will cure cancer or help in some way
- Your age
- Other health problems you have
- Your feelings about the treatment and the side effects that come with it
Surgery for liver cancer
Surgery is used to treat most liver cancers. Any type of surgery can have risks and side effects. Be sure to ask your doctor what you can expect. If you have problems, let your doctors know. Doctors who treat people with liver cancer should be able to help you with any problems that come up.
To learn more about liver cancer, please contact your primary care provider.
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