Liver cancer is cancer starts in the liver; however, some cancers develop outside the liver and spread to the organ. Liver cancer is classified as primary and secondary; however In Primary liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver and in Secondary liver cancer develops when cancer cells from another organ spread to the liver.
Symptoms of liver cancer
Below are some symptoms that indicate liver cancer:
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Pain near the right shoulder blade
- Enlarged liver
- Swelling in abdomen
- Feeling of fullness
- swollen veins
Stages of liver cancer
Healthcare experts divide the progression of liver cancer into four stages:
Stage 1 – at stage 1 cancer remaining in the liver and do not spread to other organs
Stage 2 – At stage 2 of liver cancer, either there could be many small tumors that result in liver or else one tumor that has reached the blood vessel.
Stage 3 – at stage 3 of liver cancer, there are large tumors or one tumor that has reached the main large blood vessel.
Stage 4 – At stage 4 liver cancers, the tumor spreads to other body parts.
People who are more at risk of liver cancer
The cause of liver cancer is still unknown, and experts are not sure why some people get liver cancer, and others don’t. Certain factors increase the risk of liver cancer in people:
- People above 50 years of age are more prone to liver cancer.
- A long term infection of Hepatitis B or C and damage the liver.
- Having more alcoholic beverages for a long term can increase the risk of liver cancer.
- Cirrhosis, a condition of liver damage
- Exposure to a flatoxin
- Diabetes and obesity
Liver cancer diagnose
Liver cancer diagnosis starts with a medical history as well as a physical examination. There many tests are done by an expert to diagnose liver cancer :
- Liver function tests to determine the health of the liver
- Test to determine the presence of alpha-fetoprotein
- Abdominal CT or MRI scans are performed to get detailed images of liver
- Liver biopsy is also done for removing a small piece of liver tissue and is done using anesthesia. After the removal of a tissue sample is then examined under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Treatment of liver cancer
Liver cancer treatment varies from person to person and depends upon the
- Size, location and number of tumors
- Functionality of liver
- Weather Cirrhosis is present in the liver or not
- Weather tumor is spread to other organs or not
Based on the above factors, liver cancer treatments are :
- Hepatectomy
It is done to remove a portion of the liver or whole liver when cancer is present.
- Liver transplant
Liver transplant is done to remove the entire deceased liver with a healthy liver taken from a donor.
- Ablation
It is done by using heat or ethanol injections to destroy the cancer cells. This treatment is to help people who are not candidates for surgery or a transplant.
- Chemotherapy
It is considered as the drug therapy done to destroy cancer cells. It can also be given as outpatient treatment.
- Radiation therapy
It is one of the treatments done when liver cancer is diagnosed with the use of high energy radiation beams to kill cancer cells. The process involves the use of a catheter to inject tiny radioactive spheres into the hepatic artery.
- Targeted therapy
It is the treatment of liver cancer that is done with the use of medications that are specifically designed to hit cancer cells at specific points.
- Embolization and chemoembolization
These both are the surgical procedures performed to block off the hepatic artery.
Liver transplant cost in India
Liver Transplant cost in India is somewhere between USD 38000 to USD 44000. It is recommended when the liver is not able to function adequately, leading to Liver Failure. There are many best hospitals in India for liver transplant by using the latest surgical techniques and tools, counting laparoscopic liver surgery to help patients to recover faster and return to their normal lifestyle after the diagnosis of liver cancer or any other liver disease and its monitoring the progress of your liver disease treatment. Liver transplant surgery is done by taking a liver from a close relative or brain dead donor after the matching blood tests, along with other tests, are performed. People who have been diagnosed with end-stage liver disease or liver cancer is considered for a transplant.
