Treatments

Diagnosis

Symptoms

During the early stages of liver cancer, there are no noticeable symptoms. Unfortunately, this means that the cancer is unlikely to be detected early, when it is most treatable. However, some types of liver cancer grow quickly. As the liver cancer progresses, symptoms may include:

Weight loss, lack of appetite
Jaundice (a yellow-greenish coloring of the skin and eyes)
Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, causing swelling or esophageal hemorrhage)
Bleeding from the digestive tract
Pain on the right side of the abdomen

Risk Factors

Most patients who develop hepatocellular carcinoma have an underlying form of liver disease. These include:

Cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, due to an inflammation. Cirrhosis may be caused by many years of excessive alcohol intake, or by other factors. Recent evidence suggests that patients with almost all types of cirrhosis carry an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinomas at some point in their lives.

Hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Exposure to certain carcinogenic chemicals, including anabolic steroids (male hormones), arsenic, and aflatoxin (found in tropical and subtropical regions).
Hemachromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes excessive absorption and retention of iron in the liver.
Tobacco, birth control pills. Studies are underway to determine whether use of tobacco or birth control pills also increase risk of liver cancer. Currently, the evidence is inconclusive.

Reducing Risk

While it may not be possible to absolutely prevent liver cancer, it is possible to reduce your risk by focusing on preventable risk factors: alcohol consumption, hepatitis and anabolic steroids. Excessive drinking of alcohol is the most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver, which often leads to liver cancer. Avoiding excess alcohol offers many other health advantages. as well.

A vaccination is now available to protect against hepatitis B. Children should be vaccinated at the appropriate age.

Anabolic steroids are sometimes taken by athletes to increase strength. These steroids create various health risks, including the risk of liver cancer. They should be avoided, unless prescribed by a physician for medical reasons.