Below, you’ll find must-know information about liver cancer.
Liver cancer occurs when the liver is unable to control the growth of cancer cells. These cancer cells can invade other parts of the liver, bone, or blood. This can cause permanent damage to the liver.
If left untreated, it can also spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs, breast, pancreas, and kidneys. This is known as metastasis and can happen years after a primary diagnosis. The cancerous cells may travel through blood vessels, lymph, or nearby tissue, and form new tumors.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is also known as hepatoma. This is the type of liver cancer that is most prevalent. It can occur as a single tumor or as a cluster of tumors throughout the liver.
There are also other kinds of liver cancer. They are intrahepatic bile duct cancer and hepatoblastoma. The risk of developing liver cancer increases if you have diabetes, chronic hepatitis B or C, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Identifying risk factors for liver cancer is important because early detection can lead to better treatment and survival rates. These factors include genetic conditions, liver infections, and lifestyle choices. The combination of any of these factors can increase the risk of liver cancer.
In addition to the risk factors for liver cancer, people who smoke or drink alcohol have a higher risk of developing the disease. People who are obese also have a higher risk. Other causes include chronic liver infections such as hepatitis B.
Knowing the various symptoms of liver cancer can help manage the condition. Below are liver cancer symptoms and treatments worth knowing.
10. Loss Of Appetite
Tumors can affect the body’s hunger signals by secreting hormones. Liver cancer symptoms such as nausea, discomfort, anxiety, sadness, and dehydration can all contribute to a loss of appetite.
Since the liver is an important part of the digestive system, having secondary liver cancer can make the individual feel less hungry. This can eventually lead to weight loss.
9. Rapid Weight Loss
Rapid weight loss can be an effect of several treatments, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It can also be caused by a medical condition called cachexia.
Also known as extreme wasting, cachexia is a metabolic disorder that occurs in the later stages of serious diseases such as cancer. This extreme wasting makes it hard for the body to sustain the necessary nutrients for normal growth. Hence, rapid weight loss happens.
8. Stomach Pain
Inflammation of the membrane around the liver is one of the major causes of stomach pain. The individual may feel pain in the right upper abdomen, in the back below the right shoulder blade, or the front center of the belly.
A large cyst on the liver can also cause pain. This is a possible cause of stomach pain in liver cancer.
7. Vomiting
Certain cancers of the liver produce hormones that affect organs other than the liver itself. This may lead to high blood calcium levels, also known as hypercalcemia.
Hypercalcemia can make the patient feel nauseous, causing him or her to vomit. Disorientation, constipation, tiredness, and muscle pain can also be experienced by the patient.
6. Weakness
Cancer can cause nausea and other digestive problems, which can make it difficult for the patient to eat properly. This can eventually cause the patient to feel weak. If the patient does not eat enough, the body may begin to break down. This can lead to weakness.
It is important to make sure that the patient is getting the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. These nutrients can be essential for healing and fighting infection. The patient must make sure to get the right amounts of vitamins and minerals.
5. Fatigue
Changing sleep patterns and other health conditions can contribute to fatigue. Other causes of fatigue include infections and changes in hormone levels.
During cancer treatment, many factors can cause fatigue. These include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. Some of these treatments can affect metabolism and red blood cell production, making the patient feel more tired.
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