Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Liver Cancer

The liver is one of the most vital organs of our body that helps in removing toxic materials from the system. So, it goes without saying that the health of our liver is extremely crucial for survival. One of the most perilous ailments that affect liver is cancer – liver cancer is deadly and traumatizing.

Cancer in the liver usually originates either from the liver itself or from the surrounding tissues, and then spreads to the organ. It can also arise from malicious hepatic tumors on the liver. The major setback of liver cancer is that in most of the cases, it can only be detected at an advanced stage, leaving no time for treatment. 

But thanks to advanced treatment options by expert liver cancer specialist in Mumbai at Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, liver cancer is now preventable.  

What causes liver cancer? 

The exact cause of liver cancer is yet to be determined, but there are a number of factors that may lead to liver cancer.

· In most of the cases, it is seen to be arising from scars on the liver, a condition known as cirrhosis.

· Sometimes, inherited liver diseases may also trigger liver cancer.

· Excess obesity may also lead to liver cancer since the immunity power of the body decreases.

· Consuming alcohol on a daily basis and in large quantities is another common trigger to this deadly ailment.

· Liver cancer has a familial history where the probability is always high.

· Other than that, severe diabetics are also highly vulnerable to developing cancer in the liver.

· In certain areas, arsenic present in drinking water is also known to have caused liver cancer.

What are its symptoms? 

The early symptoms of liver cancer are extremely surreptitious, which leaves them almost undetected until it is a very advanced stage. But commonly, the following symptoms might indicate liver cancer:

• Abdominal pain

• Unexplained weight loss

• Enlarged liver

• Fatigue

• Back pain

• Jaundice and fever

• Nausea, vomiting, and itching

Owing to the discrete symptoms and its high rate of mortality, the major risk factors leading to liver cancer must be strictly avoided. 

Treatment for liver cancer 

For liver Cancer Treatment, first, the stage of cancer needs to be determined. Liver cancer is generally staged into four steps. When the tumour or scar resides in the liver and has not spread to any other organs, the disease is in stage 1. Similarly, the seriousness or staging is determined by tracking the spreading of cancer to nearby tissues. 

Once the stage of the cancer is determined, the course of treatment is then chalked out. The following are the ways in which liver cancer can be treated- 

• Partial hepatectomy- In this procedure, a part of the liver is removed by surgery when the tumour is small. Hepatectomy depends on the physical conditions of the person and is undertaken only after examining the patient’s health methodically. 

• Liver transplant- For the liver transplant to take place, the size and number of tumours on the liver must be less. If a successful transplant can be carried out in a patient suffering from liver cancer, then the risk of recurrence of liver cancer is greatly reduced. Even the normal functions of that part of the human body can be easily restored.

• Radiation therapy and chemotherapy- Radiations are used to kill the cancerous cells and tumours if they cannot be treated otherwise. And in case of chemotherapy, suitable medications are injected into the areas near the affected parts of the liver to kill the cancer cells. 

Apart from the standard treatment procedures, patients can also avail anti-cancer drugs therapy to get back to a healthy life. For effective screening and successful cancer treatment, Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital is undoubtedly the best liver cancer hospital in Mumbai.