Liver Cancer 101 – Part 2

So we’ll continue with the part 2 in this post. We’ll cover some more facts about the liver cancer.

Symptoms:

•    Weight Loss
•    Appetite Loss
•    Abdominal pain
•    Abdominal fluid
•    Jaundice

Detection of Liver Cancer
 
Liver cancer can be detected in many ways like CT scan, MRI, Blood Tests and Ultrasounds. The blood tests usually focus on checking whether the levels of alpha-fetoprotein are higher or not.

Treatments available for Liver Cancer

The treatment of HCC is unique to different patients. It depends on how fast the tumor grows and what’s the current stage of the tumor. Liver cancer may be cured by surgery, embolization (curing the tumor without surgery) or in the worst case, by a liver transplant. Embolization or tumor ablation may be done either by radiotherapy or by chemotherapy.

When does a liver transplant happen?

Liver cancers usually originate in other parts of the body and eventually spread to the liver. Similarly, the tumours that start in the liver are usually at a very advanced stage when detected. A liver transplant doesn’t cure any of these situations. Liver transplants work only when the cancer is restricted only to the liver, and is small.

Treatments and Prevention for Secondary Liver Cancers

Usually liver cancers are secondary in nature. Which means that before liver cancers are detected, there already is another site or a combination of sites where malignancy is present. In general, despite treatment, patients do not live longer than 1 year after hepatic metastases. Treatments include immunotherapy, chemo and radiotherapy.

Prevention is the best defence when it comes to the liver cancers. Prevention against chronic hepatitis B and C, less alcohol consumption in daily routine, avoiding binge drinking and maintaining general health of liver; are some of the best ways to avoid liver cancers. Regular screening helps in ensuring timely diagnoses and treatment.

Future of Liver Cancers

There are organizations and foundations that support research related to diagnosis, prevention and cure of various liver diseases, including cancers. All such research looks to development of new methods or combined treatments and control of the viral hepatitis infections to ensure reduction in the cases of liver cancers.

At Core Cancer Foundation, we try to stay at the top of the research news and our experts and volunteers are happy to share with you information, should you need it. Do feel free to reach us through our website at www.corecancerfoundation.org .

How to Self – check if you may be showing breast cancer symptoms

Disclaimer: Cancer can be accurately detected only by a trained doctor and / or through proper diagnostic tests. The advice below is merely indicative and extremely preliminary in nature. The absence of below symptoms does not necessary mean the absece of breast cancer. Please consult your doctor for proper diagnosis.

Step 1:
Shoulders straight, arms on hips. Now look in the mirror. Observe your breasts for the following key points :usual size, shape and color. If you see dimpling, puckering, bulging of skin, a changed or inverted nipple position, redness, rash, swelling or soreness; contact your doctor and bring the signs to their attention.

Step 2 :
As you look in the mirror, check out for any fluids oozing out of one or both nipples. Milky, yellow, watery or blood, any fluid oozing out should be brought to the doctor’s notice.

Step 3 :
Lie down and feel your breasts. Using right hand to feel the left breast and vice versa. It needs to be a smooth, firm touch using the fingerpads of the first few fingers. Fingers should be kept together and flat and a circular motion should be used, that is about one quarter in size.  Make sure you cover the entire breast. From side to side, top to bottom, from armpit to the cleavage and from collarbone to the top of the abdomen. Ensure you check for the same symptoms. Use varying pressure and ensure you cover from front to the back of the tissue.

Step 4 :
Check the symptoms when sitting or standing. This can be easier when in shower, because it’s easier when the skin is slippery. Use the same movements as described in step 3.

Remember all these initial home – checks are not foolproof. They need to be brought to your doctor’s notice. Upon recommendation, appropriate mammograms shall need to be done to ascertain the situation with accuracy. For more information, or an awareness camp you can also reach out to NGOs like us. We at Core Cancer Foundation, look forward to supporting you.

One of our own - A survivor story

My journey with breast cancer began in 2015. I was shattered, shaken, worried, and numb. I had a young child; I had ageing parents and a very loving husband. I had thought I was healthy at 38 and had a lot to look forward to in life. Would I be leaving all this behind?

Initial panic dissipated into fervent search for further diagnosis, doctors and treatments. The search led to confusion; so many myths, claims of what’s the right and not the right way of treating the ailment. My family and I were emotionally overwhelmed too.

We didn’t want someone who would treat only the cancer, we wanted someone who would treat me holistically. A bunch of professionals who would ensure not just the surgery, radiation and chemo, but also the counseling, therapy, preventive treatment further and much more. I needed holistic professional support.

I needed not just good treating doctor but also a good coordinating doctor. Someone who would help me make sense of my mammograms, X-rays, CTs and other diagnostic reports. Doctors who would share information with my family and me and help us make a good decision, rather than deciding for us. I was lucky I found a facility that miraculously fit the bill.

My doctors and other care members listened to us. We were lucky to have them sit down with us and plan my treatment in a way that suited ‘my’ needs rather than a cookie cut model. They were not just diligent but also compassionate. They connected us with support groups, through which we found more people like us. We figured out how to ask for support from friends and family. For some time, our careers, finances, family and emotions were all in an upheaval which we couldn’t have dealt with without this amazing support.

I was supported not just by my medical oncologist, but also my dietician, therapist, naturopathic consultant and the nursing staff. They were qualified, understanding, and gentle and yet fought my cancer alongside me. They made me feel my family and I were truly not alone in our battle! If not for them, my journey would have been very difficult.

After I got cured, I realized I had to give back to the community. That is when I associated with Core Cancer Foundation and started volunteering against this menace we call cancer. Giving back to the community as I worked closely with them is what finally gave me closure. Today, I’m healthy, happy, with my family in the US, but my heart remains in India, where we together fought cancer!

Liver Cancer 101

What causes liver cancer

Many factors. Liver filters blood from all parts of the body and hence cancer cells from anywhere can reach liver and start growing. Often cancers related to the gastro-intestinal tract lead to liver cancers. It is also surmised that the ability of liver to regenerate is in some ways linked to liver cancers.

Classification of Liver Cancers

Liver can have many types of tumors. Only some of these tumors are cancerous in nature. Hence, the most basic classification of the tumors is whether liver tumors are benign or malignant. Benign tumors are relatively harmless while the malignant tumors are capable of spreading beyond the liver and are serious.

Some facts about benign liver tumors

Hemangioma is the most common benign tumor found in liver. It begins in the fetal stages and is nothing but an abnormal growth of blood vessels. It is estimated that more than 10 % of the normal population has this situation any way. There are no symptoms, no treatments unless one of the tumors may enlarge and bleed. Surgical removal is performed in such cases.

Similarly, Hepatic Adenomas and Focal Nodular Hyperplasia are benign tumors of liver cells.  Most do not have symptoms but FNH can be difficult to differentiate from liver cancers. Adenomas occur more in women and seem to be triggerd in some cases by pregnancy or birth control pills.

Some facts about Malignant liver tumors

HCC or the hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type and can have different growth patterns. It is particularly dangerous as it may spread to other parts of the body in later stages. Liver cancer has also been observed to develop in more than one site and then multiple timorous growths. This pattern is common in people with liver cirrhosis.

Liver cancer can also originate in bile ducts and is called cholangiocarcinoma. Often liver cancers originate elsewhere and then metastacize in liver. They are considered wither as secondary liver cancers or cancer metastases. In fact the secondary liver cancers have 30 % higher prevalence than the primary liver cancers.

Risk Factors Associated With Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is rare in absence of chronic liver diseases. The exact reasons behind liver cancer are not known but it is commonly observed that men are more prone to it than women for reasons still unknown. Cirrhosis, certain types of inherited liver diseases and viral infections of the liver can also lead to greater chances of liver cancer. Alcohol, obesity, steroids and tobacco use are also among causes that increase the probability of liver cancers.

In this two – part article on Liver cancer, Core Cancer Foundation will bring you more information in the next article. Till then, stay safe !