Liver cancer - incidence, symptoms, causation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis

Liver cancer also known as primary or metastatic liver cancer is a very rare form of cancer in the Western world (1%) of all cancers, but much more common in Africa and parts of Asia () 10% to 50% of all cancers. It is much more common in men and incidence increases with age. Liver cancer is sudden death, usually within 6 months from gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic failure or metastasis.

TYPES OF LIVE CANCER
Most primary liver tumors are known hepatomas(hepatocellular carcinoma and primary lower cell carcinoma). Some primary liver cancer known to originate in the bile duct and these as cholangiomas. Some rare cancer of the liver include Kupffer cell sarcoma and hepatoblastomas (which occur almost exclusively in children and are usually) decent and curable. Metastatic liver cancer is 20 times more common than primary liver cancer and liver cirrhosis after that the leading form of liver-related deaths is.

Signs and symptoms
Liver Cancerusually do not cause symptoms until they are at an advanced stage.
Clinical effects of advanced liver cancer include:

1. A mass in the upper right side.
2. Tender, nodular liver on palpation
3. Severe pain in the stomach or in the upper right-hand side
4. Weight loss, anorexia, weakness, fever
5. Occasional jaundice or ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity)

CAUSATION
The exact cause of liver cancer is not known in adults but in children it is a genetic disease. AdultLiver cancer can result from environmental exposure to carcinogens such as mold, contrast media (no longer in use), androgens and oral estrogens, soak up the hepatitis B virus, or caused by damage to the liver due to cirrhosis, extended by too much alcohol.

DIAGNOSIS
Liver cancer is difficult to diagnose in the presence of cirrhosis, but several tests can help identify them: The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT or MRI scans) and increased blood levels ofAlpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer may show electrolyte studies, increased sodium retention, a liver biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis.

TREATMENT
Treatments for primary liver cancer depend on the extent (stage) of disease, age, general health, feelings and personal preferences. Surgery is the most effective treatment for primary liver cancer, but that's not always possible, the tumor the size or location. MicrowavesAblation is an option for people with small, unresectable hepatocellular tumors and for some types of metastatic liver cancer. During this process, the hepatic artery (the artery from the liver receive their blood supply) is blocked, and chemotherapy drugs are injected between the blockage and the liver. Cryoablation is an option for people with inoperable primary and metastatic liver cancer. Removing the whole liver and replacing it with a liver from another person is anotherpossible form of treatment for primary liver cancer.

Even if the treatments much improvement in the liver cancer itself, pain and other signs and symptoms of liver cancer caused not be able to offer aggressive treatment to improve the quality of life. In general, treatment for children are the same as for adults, and the best approach depends on the stage and type of cancer and the child's age and general health.

PROGNOSIS
The prognosis is worse than cancerhas progressed, but also for small tumors that are confined to the liver, ablative therapies, and palliative surgical resection or liver transplantation is sometimes curative.

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