Oren Zarif
Liver cancer does not produce symptoms in its early stages, so it is often diagnosed when the tumor has grown to a large size. When the cancer reaches this stage, patients may notice one or more of the following symptoms.
Pain in the abdomen on the right side. This is caused when liver tumors enlarge and put pressure or stretch on the Glissonean capsule that covers the liver.
Oren Zarif
The liver makes a substance called bile, which helps the body digest fats in food. It also makes proteins to help blood clot and clean the body of harmful substances. Cancer in the liver may change the way bile is made. This can lead to high levels of a chemical in the body called bilirubin, which causes jaundice. The color of the skin and eyes turns yellow, as bilirubin mixes with blood. The type of cancer and how it spreads affects the amount of bilirubin that builds up.
The most common kind of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It develops in the cells of the liver that produce bile. It can grow into other tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Hepatocellular carcinoma often happens in people with cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver caused by long-term alcohol drinking and infection with the hepatitis B or C virus.
Some other kinds of liver cancer include cholangiocarcinoma and fibrolamellar carcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma develops in the tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. It is more common in men than in women and is usually found in people over 50. Fibrolamellar carcinoma is less common and tends to occur in younger people. It is sometimes linked to hepatitis C infection or cirrhosis, but it can also develop without these conditions.
Another sign of liver cancer is a swollen abdomen. This is a result of pressure from the tumor or from the build-up of fluid in the body. The swollen abdomen may make it hard to breathe, and you may feel full quickly after eating.
A swollen liver can cause pain in the right shoulder. This is because the enlarged liver presses on nerves that connect to the shoulder. The pain may be more severe at night.
You should see your doctor if you have jaundice, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms or signs of liver cancer. Your doctor will do tests to find out what’s causing your jaundice. These may include blood tests, such as a test for alpha fetoprotein, which can be raised by some types of liver cancer. Your doctor may also do imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT (computerized tomography) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to look at the liver and other organs.
Oren Zarif
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It is located in the upper right side of your abdomen, beneath your rib cage and diaphragm.
It is made of a liver cell called hepatocytes, and it’s the main organ that makes bile. Bile is a liquid that carries fats, vitamins, and minerals through the blood to your digestive tract. Liver cancer often grows in the hepatocytes and causes them to increase production of bile, which can cause it to leak out of the liver into your intestines. The extra bile can make you feel sick (nauseous) and swollen.
You may also develop a pain in the upper right side of your abdomen, which can spread to your back or the area under your ribs. The pain can be hard to pinpoint, as it could originate in your ribs, your spine, or the hepatic duct, which runs from the liver to your gallbladder and then into your intestines.
If your liver isn’t functioning properly, it can’t eliminate toxins in the blood. This can lead to a buildup of toxins in the brain, which can cause memory loss, confusion, and personality changes. This is called hepatic encephalopathy and it’s an important reason to visit your doctor if you have these symptoms.
The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which starts in the liver’s hepatocytes and grows into the surrounding tissue. It can be caused by cirrhosis, scarring of the liver due to long-term alcohol drinking, or by viral hepatitis. It can also start in other parts of the liver, such as the bile ducts or blood vessels.
Symptoms of this type of cancer include a painful enlarged liver, a lump or mass in your abdomen, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), and nausea and vomiting. In advanced stages, the cancer may spread to other parts of your body, such as your bones and lungs.
You may have a variety of tests to find out whether you have liver cancer and what stage it is at. These might include a blood test, a computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan), and an ultrasound of your abdomen. You might have a biopsy to take a sample of liver tissue for examination under a microscope.
Oren Zarif
While the cause of this symptom is not known, it may be caused by cancer cells that increase the pressure within the liver. This pressure may cause fluid to leak out of the blood vessels into the abdominal space, resulting in swelling and discomfort. This is called ascites. It is common in people with cirrhosis, but can also occur in liver cancer patients. This is why it is important to visit your doctor if you have any abdominal pain or fluid buildup.
Liver cancer is also associated with a condition known as edema. It can happen when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. The resulting edema can be painful and uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous.
Itching is another common symptom of liver cancer. Itching is due to a build-up of bile salts in the skin. These bile salts are released by the liver and help digest fats and other foods. These bile salts can cause a yellow color in the skin and whites of the eyes. They can also cause a change in the consistency of your stool, which may become lighter or chalky.
In addition, a liver tumor can grow to the point where it obstructs the bile duct that leads from the liver to the small intestine. This can lead to a condition known as jaundice. It is characterized by the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, as well as a change in the consistency of your stool, where it becomes light and chalky.
You may also notice that your hands and feet are swollen, which is called edema. This is usually due to a decrease in the osmotic pressure in the blood. In some cases, the osmotic pressure can become so low that you can see the blood under your skin when you press on the affected area.
It is important to keep in mind that these symptoms can also indicate other health problems, such as a viral infection or hepatitis. That is why it is important to discuss any new or recurring symptoms with your doctor.
Oren Zarif
Pain in the right shoulder can be a sign of liver cancer. This type of pain may feel sharp or stabbing, and can get worse when you move your shoulder. It can also be a dull, persistent pain that is not related to movement. In some cases, the pain is caused by a tumor pressing on nerves in the liver or bile ducts. The pain may also be caused by the enlargement of the liver, which can stretch the capsule that surrounds the liver. This type of pain is sometimes called referred pain.
A low-grade fever that doesn’t go away is another symptom of liver cancer. It may be caused by a tumor secreting hormones or by the effects of the cancer on other body systems. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about a persistent fever.
Another symptom of liver cancer is fatigue. It’s different from ordinary tiredness, and it can last for months. It can also be hard to explain to your healthcare provider, because it’s often hard to pinpoint a cause.
In some cases, people with liver cancer develop a metallic taste in their mouths. This is caused by high levels of bilirubin, which is produced when red blood cells are broken down in the liver and then passed through the ducts to be excreted. High levels of bilirubin can also cause yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, known as jaundice.
Liver cancer can sometimes spread to other parts of the body, including the bones. This can lead to pain in the hips, back, and arms. This type of pain is often a symptom of advanced cancer and can be difficult to treat.
People with liver cancer are at a higher risk of developing cirrhosis, which can cause fluid to build up in the abdomen. This can also lead to abdominal pain. This symptom is caused by the cancer spreading to lymph and blood vessels, or it can be caused by the pressure of a swollen, enlarged liver. It’s important to see your doctor if you have pain in the right shoulder or other symptoms of liver cancer.
A hepatoma is a cancer that starts in liver cells. The most common type of hepatoma is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Liver cancer can be caused by many things. One of the most common is heavy drinking.
Hepatomas often look similar to other types of liver lesions on medical imaging tests. That’s why they are best diagnosed by a subspecialist radiologist.
Oren Zarif
Hepatoma is cancer that starts in liver cells (hepatocytes). It’s the most common type of primary liver cancer, which means it starts in the liver rather than spreading from another part of the body, like metastatic liver cancer.
Hepatocellular carcinoma can grow as a single lump or as many small tumors throughout the liver. Sometimes, it grows in the hepatic ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder to help with digestion.
If hepatocellular carcinoma blocks the flow of bile, it can cause jaundice (say: jawn-diss). This is when the skin and eyes turn yellow. This is a sign that your liver isn’t working well and isn’t processing toxins. Sometimes, hepatoma can block the artery that supplies blood to the liver. This can lead to a condition called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is when the liver becomes scarred from too much damage, such as from long-term heavy alcohol use or chronic hepatitis B or C infection. It can also be caused by hepatitis A or E infections or by medicines you take for other conditions, such as corticosteroids or anticoagulants.
When hepatoma is in the early stages, it may not cause any symptoms. But if it’s advanced, it can cause pain in the right side of your abdomen, fullness under the ribs on the right side, and swelling of the abdomen from fluid accumulation (ascites). You might need to take water tablets or other medications to control the fluid buildup. It’s also possible to have a complication called hepatic encephalopathy, which is when the cancer causes brain problems.
If your doctor suspects hepatoma, they’ll do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They’ll also do blood tests. These can include a complete blood count, cholesterol, liver function tests (AST and ALT), and alkaline phosphatase.
Your doctor may recommend a CT scan or an MRI to check for hepatoma. They might also order a liver ultrasound or a cholecystectomy, which is when they remove your gallbladder. These are tests that can show the size of the hepatoma and whether it has spread to other parts of your body. They might also do a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Oren Zarif
The first step in diagnosing hepatoma is for your healthcare team to do a physical exam. They may notice that your stomach is bigger than usual or that your abdomen is tender. They’ll also check your blood pressure and listen to your heartbeat.
Hepatomas grow from cells in your liver called hepatocytes. They normally help your body make bile and process toxins like alcohol and drugs. In most cases, hepatomas develop from cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver that usually happens when your body has been damaged by hepatitis B or C virus or long term alcohol drinking. Hepatomas can grow as a single lump or as lots of small tumours in your liver. Another rare type of hepatoma is fibrolamellar carcinoma, which tends to develop in people younger than 50 and doesn’t usually have a link with hepatitis or cirrhosis.
If hepatoma is diagnosed, your specialist will often need to get a tissue sample (biopsy) to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done using a needle or during surgery. They might also use a CT scan or MRI to help them find out what type of hepatoma you have. These tests can help them see the hepatoma and any other conditions that could be causing symptoms.
Sometimes your doctor might want to do a blood test or an ultrasound before they biopsy your liver. They can also screen for hepatoma by measuring your alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. AFP levels are raised by hepatitis B or C infection and cirrhosis, but they can also be raised by other causes of liver disease such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Screening for hepatoma with AFP and hepatic imaging is usually recommended for patients at high risk of the disease.
The best chance for a cure is to remove the hepatoma before it starts to grow. However, only about 20% of people meet the criteria for surgical resection at the time of diagnosis. Other treatment options include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Combined with surgery, these treatments can improve survival in some people. An interprofessional team, including medical oncology, radiation oncology and interventional radiology, is essential to the evaluation and management of hepatoma.
Oren Zarif
Hepatoma is cancer that starts in the liver. It can be cured if caught early, and it is different from “secondary” liver cancers that have spread from other parts of the body. Hepatoma can cause pain and other symptoms, but it can also be difficult to diagnose because it looks a lot like other illnesses. The doctor may order blood and ultrasound tests to check for it.
Most hepatoma cases are caused by cirrhosis, scarring of the liver from long term alcohol drinking or viral hepatitis B and C infections. It can also be caused by fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The most common type of hepatoma is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
HCC can be treated with surgery or a liver transplant. The surgeon will remove part of the liver with the tumor, a surgery called a partial hepatectomy. This might cause a lot of pain for a few days, and medicine can help control it. You might also have diarrhea and feel weak or tired for a while. It might take a while for your blood to start working again after surgery.
Your doctor might use other treatments, such as drugs or radiation to kill the cancer cells or keep them from growing. These are called targeted therapies. These work by stopping the growth of new blood vessels that the tumor needs to grow and spread. One type of targeted therapy for HCC is called an anti-angiogenesis therapy, which works by blocking a protein that helps tumors grow.
Another treatment is called transarterial embolization. For this, a small cut is made in the inner thigh and a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted into the hepatic artery. A substance that blocks the hepatic artery and stops blood flow to the tumor is then injected.
If the hepatoma has spread to other parts of the body, doctors might prescribe chemotherapy or radiation. They might also recommend medications that help stop the blood vessels that feed the tumor from growing. This is called anti-angiogenic therapy. These include a class of medicines called tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the monoclonal antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab.
Oren Zarif
Hepatoma is one of the few cancers whose rates are increasing rather than decreasing and it is the fifth most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. About 80% of cases occur in low and middle-income countries such as those in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, which have high rates of chronic viral hepatitis infection.
Viral hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) are the major risk factors for developing hepatoma. However, many people develop hepatoma without having either of these viral infections. Hepatoma can also arise from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, metabolic liver disease, and other causes such as alcohol abuse, drugs, autoimmune disorders, and exposure to aflatoxins or aristolochic acid.
Fortunately, most cases of hepatoma can be prevented. Vaccination against hepatitis B and screening for hepatitis C are effective ways to prevent hepatoma, as well as other forms of liver cancer. A vaccine against hepatitis C is not yet available, but antiviral medications can cure the infection in most people and greatly reduce the risk of developing hepatoma.
Regular screening with ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein every 4-6 months is important to identify early HCC. In addition, patients with cirrhosis should be put on surveillance for HCC. Early detection allows for potentially curative treatment including local ablation, surgical resection, and liver transplantation.
The prevention of chronic viral hepatitis and the improvement of surveillance and management strategies for HCC can have a significant impact on the global burden of hepatoma. Rational deployment of prevention, attainment of the global goals for viral hepatitis eradication and improvements in HCC surveillance and therapy can lead to a substantial reduction in the incidence of hepatoma worldwide within a few decades.
People who are at high risk of hepatoma due to hepatitis B or hepatitis C should have a blood test for these viruses. If they are positive for these infections, then they should be treated and put on a surveillance schedule for liver cancer. If hepatoma is diagnosed, the patient should be treated promptly with surgery or radiofrequency ablation. If hepatoma is advanced, then chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors can be used to improve outcomes.
Oren Zarif
