Comment from: Beebosmommie, 55-64 Female (Caregiver)Published: March 19
My sister at age 56 was diagnosed with Stage 4 Advanced Adenocarcinoma Liver Cancer from an unknown primary in September. She passed away 4 months later. The cancer ate right through the many rounds of chemotherapy she was given. It was so aggressive. It has been said that people who live in 3rd world countries are at a higher risk of developing this type of cancer because they don't have access to the advanced medical care that people in the United States easily have. My sister was an American living in the United States. How could this happen to someone who was under the care of 3 doctors one of which was an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist and an internist? How does this type of cancer go undetected? Had she not gone to her internist complaining of her side hurting and that doctor doing an X-ray of her ribs and a CT scan, she would not have known she had this cancer. The CT scan picked up the top of her liver which showed the tumors. Her doctor told her that this cancer had been growing for at least 1 year. How did it run under the radar? The doctor's explanation was it's like a submarine, it lays low for a long time and then all of a sudden it decides to attack and by then it's too late. Well can't they do a blood test to determine if you have a submarine laying at the bottom of your ocean? Needless to say, my sister suffered a horrendous death. We finally had to decide to have the hospice people sedate her to put her out of her painful misery. No one should have to suffer a horrendous death like that. For heaven's sake they put dogs and cats down with more compassion.
Comment from: leslie lara, 35-44 Male (Caregiver)Published: March 19
My husband just passed away from hepatocellular carcinoma. He was diagnosed in August and passed away a year later in March. I can tell you this it is one of the most awful things I had ever experienced in my life, he did not know anything was wrong until he got hurt at work and started having trouble breathing. We thought he just had a cold, It was stage 4 by the time they found it. It is a silent killer in the last 3 day's of his life what killed him was complications due to the liver shutting down In most patients it spread's to other parts of the body. My husbands had spread from the liver to his ribs, spine, shoulder and brain. He also had no risk factors for the disease he never drank or had hep A, B or C, so it hits all walks of life. My husband was 43 and left behind 2 little girls ages 7 and 8. Please get regular checkups and insist they do complete body scans and blood work including the AFP test, to rule out this deadly form of cancer.
Comment from: gary, 45-54 Male (Patient)Published: March 16
I am a 48 yr old male. Diagnosed with stage two colon cancer, and had a resection of the sigmoid colon - removing 17 inches and a dozen lymph nodes. All was good until my 1 yr colonoscopy/biopsy. It turns out that I have abnormal cells/dysplasia so I got a pet/ct scan which confirmed lesions/tumors on my liver - about 6 of them. So now I am told I have stage 4 colon cancer with liver metastasis. I am not a drinker or smoker and very healthy and fit. I now await a biopsy of the liver and a full pet scan to tell me my fate. The survival rate has to be higher than I am reading. I mean I feel good. so does it just hit me all of the sudden? I have some low back pains, etc, but I am very active. I don't know, but I have to beat this thing, I just have too.
Comment from: Xmasmiracle, 45-54 Male (Caregiver)Published: January 22
My brother is dying of Cancer; this was shock a shock to my family because in September we had such a Wonderful family Reunion! He looked so good, was not drinking, had lost weight and had been excising regularly! He went to see his doctor for pain thinking it was from excising to find out he had Liver Cancer and 3 tumors, he could not get a transplant due to those factors. The doctors told him he has 6 to 8 months, but I know it's just a matter of time! My sister's just came back from seeing him and was shock to see all the weight he had lost, he can not keep anything down, he's only on Assure, he is jaundice, his stomach is so blotted. He can not even answer our phone calls, work a cell phone or work his favorite computer. This has been the worst Holiday season! All I can do is listen for the phone, because I know it will be bad news. It's so sad because I wanted to grow old with my brother by my side, now I will only have distance memories. Liver cancer is the worst! All I can say if you have a pain on your right side you need to run to your doctors and have him run all kinds of test, because if you do not catch this symptoms early, you will die. I can only hope for a Xmas miracle, or that sleep for him comes swiftly and that he will rest in peace with no more pain, he will surely be missed!
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Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Cirrhosis of the liver refers to a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue caused by alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C. This disease leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow, causing internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin, itching, and fatigue.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is usually spread by
blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needle sticks, especially with intravenous
drug abuse. Chronic hepatitis C may be treated with interferon, usually in combination with anti-virals.
Cholesterol is naturally produced by the body, and is a building block for cell membranes and hormones. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol, conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. High cholesterol treatment includes lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), and medications such as statins, bile acid resins, and fibric acid derivatives.
Jaundice is a yellowish staining of the skin and whites of the eyes (sclerae) with bilirubin, the pigment found in bile. Jaundice can be an indicator of liver or gallbladder disease, or it may result from the rupture of red blood cells (hemolysis).
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is most commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the other causes of ascites include portal hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and pancreatitis. The most common symptoms include increased abdominal girth and size, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on the cause of ascites.
Polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) causes are either primary (aquired or genetic mutations) or secondary (diseases, conditions, high altitude). Treatment of polycythemia depends on the cause.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes).
Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues. Causes of insulin can include conditions such as stress, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and steroid use. Some of the risk factors for insulin resistance include fatty liver, heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, high cholesterol, and smoking. Treatment for insulin resistance are lifestyle changes and if necessary, medication.
Hepatitis is most often viral, due to infection with one of the hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E, F (not confirmed), and G) or another virus (such as those that cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus disease). The main nonviral causes of hepatitis are alcohol and drugs. Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. For those who do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu- like symptoms including: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness, and aching in the abdomen. Treatment of viral hepatitis is dependant on the type of hepatitis.
Hereditary hemochromatosis (iron overload) is an inherited disorder in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body. Individuals may have no symptoms or signs, or they can have severe symptoms and signs of iron overload. The most effective treatment for hemochromatosis is therapeutic phlebotomy.
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis is a chronic disease characterized by progressive inflammation and destruction of small bile ducts within the liver. The bile ducts transport bile from the liver to the intestine for the absorption of fat and elimination of waste products. The causes of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis may involve autoimmunity, infection, or genetic predisposition, acting alone or in combination. There are many medications and treatment options available for those with this and other associated diseases of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins). The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver. Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice.
Mold exposure may cause symptoms in people who are sensitive to molds. Symptoms of mold allergy include sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, coughing, redness of the eyes, and rash. Prevent mold growth by keeping indoor humidity low, between 30%-50%, using bathroom fans when showering, repairing plumbing leaks quickly, and using an air conditioner during humid seasons.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive disease of the bile ducts that channel bile from the liver into the intestines. There is an association between primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis include abnormal liver blood tests, itching, fatigue, and jaundice. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is treated with medications and in some cases, liver transplant.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances that are related to testosterone and promote skeletal muscle growth and the development of male sexual characteristics in both men and women. In the 1930s, it was discovered that anabolic steroids could promote skeletal muscle growth in lab animals, which lead to anabolic steroid abuse by bodybuilders and weight lifters.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder that may cause liver and lung disease in adults. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, weight loss, respiratory infections, fatigue, vision abnormalities. Advanced lung disease from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency include emphysema. Liver damage from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes a swollen abdomen, swollen legs or feet, and jaundice.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are the two most commnon viruses that infect the liver. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can be prevented and treated with immunizations (vaccinations) such as Havrix, Vaqta, Twinrix, Comvax, Pediarix, and hepatitis b immune globulin (HBIG).
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic (lasting years and
decades), progressive (worsening over time) disease of the bile ducts that
channel bile from the liver into the intestines.
The liver performs many functions; one of them is manufacturing bile. Bile is
a watery liquid made by the cells of the liver that is important for digesting
food in the intestine, particularly fat, and ridding the body of toxins. Liver
cells secrete the bile they make into small canals within the liver. The bile
flows through the canals and into larger collecting canals (ducts) within the
liver (the intrahepatic bile ducts). The bile then flows within the intrahepatic
bile ducts out of the liver and into the extrahepatic bile ducts. From the
extrahepatic bile ducts, the bile flows into the intestine where the bile mixes
with food.
In primary sclerosing cholangitis, the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bi...
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My sister at age 56 was diagnosed with Stage 4 Advanced Adenocarcinoma Liver Cancer from an unknown primary in September. She passed away 4 months later. The cancer ate right through the many rounds of chemotherapy she was given. It was so aggressive. It has been said that people who live in 3rd world countries are at a higher risk of developing this type of cancer because they don't have access to the advanced medical care that people in the United States easily have. My sister was an American living in the United States. How could this happen to someone who was under the care of 3 doctors one of which was an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist and an internist? How does this type of cancer go undetected? Had she not gone to her internist complaining of her side hurting and that doctor doing an X-ray of her ribs and a CT scan, she would not have known she had this cancer. The CT scan picked up the top of her liver which showed the tumors. Her doctor told her that this cancer had been growing for at least 1 year. How did it run under the radar? The doctor's explanation was it's like a submarine, it lays low for a long time and then all of a sudden it decides to attack and by then it's too late. Well can't they do a blood test to determine if you have a submarine laying at the bottom of your ocean? Needless to say, my sister suffered a horrendous death. We finally had to decide to have the hospice people sedate her to put her out of her painful misery. No one should have to suffer a horrendous death like that. For heaven's sake they put dogs and cats down with more compassion.
Related Reading: Liver Cancer | cancer | chemotherapy