Cancer of the liver- Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Liver cancer is a frequently heard malady. In fact the liver gets cancer because of disorder in its own or, because trouble somewhere else in the body tries to find refuge in it. Liver is the sieving ground of the body. Whatever we eat passes through this 'kitchen' and it is our liver which guards our body from harmful agents present in our food. In this process of 'guarding; the liver often gets 'hurt'. Moreover, liver is the only organ of the body that has got a dual blood supply - through a portal vein and an artery. This makes it the most busy organ in the body. So, when cancer develops elsewhere and is present in the blood, it can affect the liver. This explains why liver cancer is so common.

Causes of liver cancer:

Liver cancer may be either primary or, secondary.

Primary Liver cancer or, Hepatocellular cancer

Sometimes liver's own cells called hepatocytes sometimes turn cancerous. These are called Hepato cellular cancer or primary liver cancer. There are different causes of this. The commonest are infections by Hepatitis B and C. Some fungal toxins called Aflatoxins can also cause this type of cancer. The predominant cause also varies across the globe. In India it is Hepatitis B, in the western countries, Hepatitis C. Therefore prevention of these viruses is the key to refrain from cancers of the liver.


Secondary or, Metastatic Liver Cancer

Uncontrolled and unregulated growth of cells leads to any kind of cancer. Cancerous cells often leave its harbour and sail into the big ocean called the body. This is called Metastasis, individual cancers differ in their tendency to roam - but lung, prostate, breast, thyroid and uterine cancers are some of the common ones that are detected often for the first time in its new home, the liver. These are called secondary cancers of the liver. In fact, of all liver cancers, secondary ones are by far the commonest.



Symptoms of cancer of the liver:

Liver cancer is mostly detected by an ultrasonography done for investigating ill-health, severe loss of appetite, weight etc. These patients are often better candidates for treatment by surgery, as the tumours in them are often localised . However, the vast majority will have some problem in the abdomen. In patients of secondary liver cancers, often the symptoms of the primary disease such as rectal bleeding in colon cancer, brings the person to the attention of a doctor. Pain is not a prominent symptom at early stage of liver cancer.

The other symptoms are:

* Distension of abdomen
* Swelling of feet
* Unconsciousness
* Jaundice


Diagnosis and Treatment of cancer of the liver:

The first step of treatment is obviously getting a diagnosis. Ultrasonography and CT scans are good modalities. However, MRI of the liver and angiography yields useful information for planning the therapy. In case the lesion is small, localized and has not invaded blood vessels, a good surgical resection can nearly cure the patient In case of multiple lesions, if they are localized to an area of the liver called a lobe, one of the emerging options is liver transplantation. Liver transplantation can get one back to a normal and healthy life. But in cases of primary liver cancer where the liver gets infected only, chemotherapy has no role to play. But in secondary liver cancer, chemotheraphy can indeed be effective.

Prevention of cancer of the liver:

Vaccination for Hepatitis- B is the best preventive route. This vaccination is most effective when administered in childhood. Environmental hygiene has also an important impact on one's health. Also, one must cut down unnecessary intake of medicine.