Liver cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow out of control and form a tumor, or growth, in the liver. It is usually an aftereffect of cirrhosis, a condition that causes scarring of the liver, but it can also happen in people who have healthy livers without any underlying conditions.
Risk factors for liver cancer
Liver cirrhosis is a risk factor for liver cancer because it can make it easier for the tumor to grow and spread. Other risk factors include chronic infection with hepatitis B or C viruses, which can spread from person to person through contaminated needles in drug use or unprotected sex. Other common risk factors for liver cancer include alcohol consumption and smoking.
Screening programs that detect liver cancer early can reduce your risk of developing the disease, and prevent other health problems. These screening programs include physical examinations, blood tests and ultrasound exams.
Diagnostic imaging tests can help your doctor find primary and secondary cancers in the liver. They also show whether cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
Ultrasound, CT and MRI scans can produce detailed pictures of your organs. They can also show the location of a tumor and whether it is affecting your main blood vessels. PET-CT scans can detect liver cancers that may not be visible on other diagnostic tests.
Pathology testing is used to confirm a diagnosis of liver cancer by taking a sample of tissue for analysis under a microscope. This test can be done by using a needle that’s guided by ultrasound, MRI or CT–or by inserting a laparoscope, a thin tube equipped with a camera and surgical instruments that’s inserted through a small incision in the abdomen.
Surgery is the most common treatment for primary liver cancer. It involves removing all or part of the liver. It’s often the best option for people with no other serious illnesses, who have good liver function and who have tumors that can be safely removed from a portion of their liver.
Chemotherapy is a powerful drug therapy that kills cancer cells. It is sometimes a treatment for metastatic liver cancer, but it is not suitable for all patients and it can cause serious side effects.
Immunotherapy drugs that target cancer cells by making your immune system recognize and destroy them are also used for liver cancer. These drugs work by attacking the genes that control cell growth and behavior, which can slow or stop cancer development.
Other medicines, such as anti-angiogenesis drugs for HCC or chemoembolisation, are sometimes used to shrink or control liver cancer. These targeted therapies can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
Embolization is a type of chemotherapy that uses substances to block or cut off blood supply to a cancerous tumour, starving the cancer cells of nutrients. It is a very effective treatment, but it can cause damage to the liver and other organs.
Thermal ablation is a more targeted way of treating liver cancer that doesn’t involve surgery. It is often used if the tumor cannot be removed by surgery, or it is very large (more than 5 cm across).
Besides treating the cancer, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of liver cancer, like drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet. You should also get regular medical checkups and follow-up care. These visits are especially important if you’re at high risk for liver cancer or you have already been diagnosed with the disease.
