Liver Cancer

What is liver cancer?

Liver cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrolled in the liver. These mutated cells can also metastasize to other parts of the body through the blood and the lymphatic system. The most common type of Liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, or cancer of hepatocyte cells. Other types of liver cancer, such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma, occur less frequently.

What are the causes of liver cancer?

Besides mutations that lead to rapid cell growth, liver cancer can also be caused by chronic infections or chronic liver disease.

What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

Common symptoms of liver cancer include weight loss, appetite loss, upper abdominal pain and/or swelling, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, jaundice, and white stools.

What are risk factors of liver cancer?

Certain factors can predispose a person to liver cancer, such as chronic HBV or HCV infections, cirrhosis, inherited liver diseases (such as hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease), diabetes, fatty liver diseases, Aflatoxin exposure, and excessive alcohol consumption.

How is liver cancer treated?

Liver cancer is treated using surgery, ablation therapy, embolization, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and sometimes liver transplants. Ablation therapy is used to kill cancer cells, using a variety of methods. Embolization includes cutting off the blood supply to a tumor.