Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer (also known as hepatic cancer). This type of cancer starts in your liver.

This cancer disease can at occur at any age and affects both males and females.

Primary liver cancer forms in your liver tissues. Cancer spreading from other parts of your body to the liver is secondary liver cancer.

The most prominent liver cancer cause is Hepatitis B virus infection.

The most common liver cancer symptom includes enlargement of your liver and a feeling of fullness in your abdomen without any apparent reason.

Liver cancer treatments depend on the stage and type of your liver cancer. The state of your general health is also taken into consideration.

Unexplained fever, weakness and fatigue can be the initial signs of liver cancer.

One of the most important deciding factors for liver cancer treatments is identifying the stage of your liver cancer.

Liver cancer cure and treatments can be more effective if diagnosis takes place in the early stages.

Liver Cancer Cause

Liver is one of the most important organs of your body. It performs important functions such as removal of toxins from your body, fat and protein digestion, maintaining sugar levels in your blood and producing blood clotting factors.

A cancer in your liver can adversely affect any of these functions.

Here is a list of possible liver cancer causes:

• Viral hepatitis – B and C infect and cause damage to your liver.
• Gender – The incidence of cancer in men is more than in women. This is related to negative lifestyles including excessive smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Obesity – Chances of getting liver cancer increase in people who are overweight.
• Diabetes - If you have diabetes along with risk factors like heavy alcohol consumption and hepatitis, the risk of getting liver cancer increases.
• Hereditary condition - Inherited disease including cystic fibrosis increase liver cancer risks.
• Cirrhosis - Those suffering from cirrhosis (damage of liver cells) are at a greater risk of developing liver cancer.
• Aflatoxins – Are substances produced by fungus and found in rice, wheat, corn, soya bean, peanuts and groundnuts. Long term consumption of items containing aflatoxins can expose you to a greater risk of developing liver cancer.

Liver Cancer Symptom

Often, there can be an absence of symptoms or signs of liver cancer in its early stage.

But when symptoms do appear, it is given to understand that your cancer has reached an advanced stage.

The symptoms can resemble other conditions and diseases and not be specific.

Liver cancer symptom can be very diverse. Additionally, symptoms can differ among individuals.

The symptoms can be more prolonged and severe if you have other underlying health conditions along with liver cancer.

Typical symptoms related to the disease are:

• Appetite loss
• Abdomen feels full
• Enlarged liver
• Pain in the liver
• Loss of vigor or strength
• Progressive weakness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Fever without a reason
• Jaundice

Liver Cancer Treatments

If initial stage of liver cancer is diagnosed and treated early, your chances of a liver cancer cure stand good.

Treatments for liver cancer can vary as per individual cases. The type and stage of your liver cancer is also taken into consideration along with your age, health status, medical history, other underlying conditions or disease among other factors.

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery are the different forms of livers cancer treatments.

Treatment for early stage of liver cancer that has not spread to surrounding regions of your liver can include a liver transplant from a healthy donor.

The other option for liver cancer cure involves removal of the cancerous tumor and the surrounding tissue through surgery.

Advanced stages of liver cancer are treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or through cryosurgery.

Chemotherapy involves a mix of multiple toxic drugs and substances which are injected into the tumor to destroy and kill the tumor.

Radiation therapy makes uses of radioactive elements to curb further malignant tumor growth.

Cryosurgery uses metal probes to freeze and destroy the cancerous cells.