Types

There are only two known types of Liver Cancer.

• Primary Liver Cancer
• Secondary Liver Cancer

What is primary Liver Cancer?

Primary liver cancer is cancer that is primarily originated in the tissues of the liver and also called hepatoma.

What is secondary Liver Cancer?

Secondary liver cancer is cancer that secondarily spreads to the liver from another organ or the part of body and commonly known as metastatic liver cancer.

Most of cases of liver cancer are metastatic liver cancer.

It’s because the liver has two blood supplies, so chances are that cancer will spread from other organs like the rectum , colon, kidney and breast. Relatively in these cases, the other organs except liver will be considered the primary site of the cancer.

Risk Factors

Following factors may increase the risk of liver cancer.

· Hepatitis B infection

· Hepatitis C infection (Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection)

· Cirrhosis of the liver

· Alcohol

· Aflatoxin B1

· Drugs, medications, and chemicals

· Hemochromatosis

· Unbalanced life style

· Extra sexual activities

· Tobacco

Signs and Symptoms

Usually there are no symptoms in early stages of liver cancer so it often becomes ignorance case and often grows quickly.

Liver cancer may cause following symptoms in later stages:

• Abdominal pain
• pain around the right shoulder blade
• discomfort on the right side of the upper abdomen
• Fatigue
• weight loss
• Hard lump just below the rib cage on the right side of the body
• lack of appetite
• yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• Fever
• Weakness
• Lack of peaceful sleep
• Abnormally extra sexual activities
• Abnormally over Angry behavior

Diagnosis

Primary liver cancer is usually diagnosed through surgical biopsy or laparoscopy, blood tests, diagnostic through imaging and/ or with the help of combination of the above.

The purpose of blood test is to evaluate a protein in liver, called the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). High levels of AFP may be a sign of hepatocellular carcinoma which is a very primary stage of liver cancer. If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, the presence of liver cancer may be confirmed with a biopsy, the removal of cells or tissues for examination under a microscope. When only a sample of tissue is removed, the procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy. When an entire tumor or lesion is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle, the procedure is called a needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration.

Liver biopsy is also used to diagnose Metastatic Liver Cancer.

To screen high risk, especially patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections, the ultrasound imaging is used.

Treatment

The known treatments of liver cancer may involve surgery, interventional radiological procedures, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Liver Cancer Treatment Information