Liver cancer

Liver cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of your liver. Your liver is a soccer-ball-sized organ located in the upper right part of your abdomen, under your diaphragm, and above your stomach.

Various types of cancer can occur in the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma that begins in the main liver cell type (hepatocyte). Other types of liver cancer such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma are much less common.

Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that begins in liver cells. Cancer that begins in another part of the body such as the colon, lung, or breast and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer. This type of cancer is named after the organ in which it started, like metastatic colon cancer, to describe cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.

 

Species

  • Hepatocellular cancer
  • The symptoms
  • Liver

 

Most people do not have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer. When signs and symptoms appear they can include:

  • Losing weight without trying
  • Loss of appetite
  • Upper stomach pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • General weakness and fatigue
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • White, chalky stools

 

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any signs or symptoms that worry you.

 

Reasons

Liver cancer occurs when liver cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. The DNA of a cell is the material that provides instructions for every chemical process in your body. DNA mutations cause changes in these instructions. One consequence of this is that the cells start to grow out of control and eventually form a tumor, a mass of cancerous cells.

Sometimes, as with chronic hepatitis infections, the cause of liver cancer is known. However, sometimes liver cancer occurs in people who do not have the underlying disease, and it is not clear what causes it.

 

Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of primary liver cancer include:

  • Chronic infection with HBV or HCV. Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases your risk of liver cancer.
  • Cirrhosis. This progressive and irreversible condition causes scar tissue to form in your liver and increases your chances of developing liver cancer.
  • Some hereditary liver diseases. Liver diseases that can increase the risk of liver cancer include hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease.
  • Diabetes. People with this blood sugar disorder have a higher risk of liver cancer than those without diabetes.
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Fat accumulating in the liver increases the risk of liver cancer.
  • Exposure to aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are poisons produced by molds growing on poorly stored crops. Crops such as cereals and nuts can be contaminated with aflatoxins, which can interfere with foods made from these products.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption. Consuming more than moderate amounts of alcohol daily for many years can cause irreversible liver damage and increase your risk of liver cancer.

 

Prevention

Reduce your risk of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis scars the liver and increases the risk of liver cancer. You can reduce your risk of cirrhosis if:

  • If nothing else, drink alcohol in moderation. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink. For women, this doesn’t mean drinking more than one drink a day. For men, this means a maximum of two drinks a day.
  • Maintain your healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, try to maintain your weight by choosing a healthy diet and exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, reduce the number of calories you eat each day and increase the amount of exercise you do. Aim to lose weight slowly – 0.5 to 1 kg each week.
  • Get vaccinated against hepatitis B
  • You can reduce your risk of hepatitis B by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine can be given to almost anyone, including infants, older adults and those with a weakened immune system.

 

Take measures to prevent hepatitis C

There is no hepatitis C vaccine, but you can reduce your risk of infection.

Know the health status of any sexual partner. Do not engage in unprotected sex unless you are sure your partner is not infected with HBV, HCV, or any other sexually transmitted infection. If you do not know your partner’s health, use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse.

Do not use intravenous (IV) medications, but if you do, use a clean needle. Reduce your risk of HCV by not injecting illegal drugs. But if that’s not an option for you, make sure the needle you use is sterile and don’t share it. Contaminated medication supplies are a common cause of hepatitis C infection. Take advantage of needle exchange programs in your community