Liver cancer : what are the symptoms and can it be treated ?

Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer is a relatively rare cancer. Secondary cancers, that is, liver metastases from other cancers, are more common.

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Liver cancer can be discovered by chance, during an ultrasound performed as part of another checkup, when cirrhosis is monitored, or during a checkup for another cancer.

Definition: what is liver cancer?

Liver cancer or liver tumors are more common in the type of hepatocarcinoma. When metastases from other cancers occur, which is common because the liver is a highly vascularized organ, one or more nodules may be seen.

Initially, liver tumors usually remain silent.

Symptoms

Several symptoms, often not very serious and occurring in the course of many pathologies, can lead to the discovery of liver cancer. These include, for example

• abdominal pain,
• a fever,
• an increase in abdominal volume,
• Slimming down,
• an alteration in the general state,
• a fatigue,
• vomiting,
• Jaundice (icterus),
• the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites)...

Initially, liver tumors usually remain silent. This asymptomatic phase delays the diagnosis and therefore may lead to a less favorable prognosis.

Causes: Alcohol, infection, other cancer...

Cirrhosis is the leading cause of liver cancer. Alcohol is the leading cause of cirrhosis. Liver infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be complicated by cirrhosis and, therefore, secondarily by liver cancer. As for secondary cancers, or metastases, many primary cancers can "metastasize" to the liver, such as lung, colon or breast cancer.

Risk Factors

• Excessive alcohol consumption (risk of cirrhosis)
• Hepatitis B and C viruses (risk of cirrhosis).
• iron overload (hemochromatosis),
• obesity,
• diabetes,
• ...chronic smoker,
• Hepatic steatite,
• the male sex
• Those over 50 are other risk factors.

To diagnose it: blood analysis, tests...

In people with chronic liver disease, an ultrasound of the liver and a regular blood test for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a marker for liver tumors, are necessary.

The main diagnostic tests are the tomography or the magnetic resonance. AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) is a liver tumor marker, that is, a molecule present in the blood that can be measured to detect cancer and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

The level of AFP in the blood may increase in cases of liver cancer, but this is not always the case.

AFP also increases in other diseases such as viral hepatitis or cancers of the digestive tract. An extension assessment is performed to look for metastases.

A brain scan, chest x-ray and bone scan may be ordered.

Complications

Complications depend on the stage at which the liver cancer is discovered.

The main complication of liver cancer is liver failure, which in turn causes many symptoms and digestive disorders, often accompanied by an altered general condition.

The prognosis for liver cancer is poor, and death, unfortunately, occurs frequently.

Treatments: Liver Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy

The prognosis of a liver cancer varies according to several parameters: primary cancer or not, extension of the tumor, size of the tumor, number of tumors, general condition of the patient, presence of metastasis...

Thus, surgery is indicated mainly when the removal of a tumor is possible. For this, the tumor must be localized and unique.

In the case of metastatic cancer, the choice of adjuvant chemotherapy is usually essential to prepare for possible surgery by reducing the number and size of metastases.

Liver Transplant

Liver transplantation represents the treatment of primary liver cancer in some very specific cases. It can only be offered for small tumors.

The results are very satisfactory: the recurrence rate at 5 years is about 15%. The waiting times are very long.

Liver removal

When liver transplantation is not possible, surgery may be considered. The procedure consists of partial removal of the liver.

The procedure will seek to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible.

Monitoring the level of the alpha-fetoprotein in the blood, AFP, after surgery will help check the risk of recurrence.

Other treatments: alcohol, radiofrequency, chemo by embolization...

When there are contraindications for surgery or liver transplantation, alternative treatments may be offered. Alcoholization, or radiofrequency destruction, is a newer technique that allows for the destruction of the tumor.

Chemotherapy by embolization is performed by introducing a drug into the arteries of the liver while removing the blood supply from the tumor.

Liver cancer is a pathology of poor prognosis.

Chances of survival: Can liver cancer be cured?

Liver cancer is a pathology of poor prognosis. The liver is a vital organ, highly vascularized, which induces a high risk of metastasis.

In addition, liver cancer is generally asymptomatic, which, apart from the regular follow-up of another pathology (cirrhosis), carries a risk of late diagnosis.

These factors explain why the chances of survival are relatively low (about 13% at 5 years). However, many factors can cause this figure to vary (general health status, age, location, etc.).

Doctor's advice

The main risk factor for liver cancer remains chronic alcoholism. Monitoring alcohol consumption remains the best prevention.

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