What Is Liver Cancer?
The liver is the second largest organ (the first being the skin) in the human body weighing about 1500 grams. When the cells in the liver undergo abnormal changes (mutation), this may lead to uncontrolled cell division that spreads to other body parts. These cancerous cells grow and divide quickly, which deprives healthy body cells of nourishment and oxygen. Ultimately, the healthy cells may die due to cancer. Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is cancer that starts in the liver. Metastatic or secondary liver cancer is cancer that spreads from other organs to the liver.
The main intervention to diagnose liver cancer is a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or (in some cases) an ultrasound (USG). The doctor will conduct the required tests based on the symptoms.
How is liver cancer usually diagnosed?
Besides, the doctor may order blood tests to look for a specific protein elevation in the blood. This protein or tumor marker is called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and is a screening tool for liver cancer. However, it is not specific to liver cancer, so it is not the first test of choice.
The AFP is a protein that can be found in high levels in adults with liver disease, liver cancers, and testicular cancer. Again, many patients with early liver cancer have normal levels of AFP, so high AFP levels do not help determine if a liver mass is a cancer.
The AFP test is performed for the following reasons
- In people already diagnosed with liver cancer, the AFP level can help determine treatment options.
- A declining AFP level may help understand the effectiveness of treatment.
- This test can also be used after treatment to check if the cancer is gone or is still inside the body.
Other blood tests performed for liver cancer patients include
- Blood clotting tests: A damaged liver may not produce enough of the clotting factors, which are required to stop bleeding. The doctor may order blood tests to measure levels of clotting factors.
- Complete blood count: This is done to check for the various types of cells present in the blood. It is a routine test done before every surgery and as a follow-up to chemotherapy.
- Kidney function tests: Tests to assess the blood urea level and the blood creatinine level before surgery and chemotherapy.
- Tests for viral hepatitis: The doctor might order blood tests to check for hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis B and C infection have been linked to liver cancer.
- Liver function test (LFT): The test is done to measure the various parameters of liver function. It helps determine the health status of the liver and if the body can tolerate chemotherapy or major surgery. If not, the doctor may advise palliative treatment that helps improve quality of life.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is the removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope. This reveals information about the nature of cancer cells to the doctor
- Radiological tests: Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans may be done to assess the spread of the tumor in the pelvis and other sites.
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References
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Top Can Liver Cancer Be Diagnosed With a Blood Test Related Articles
Alpha-Fetoprotein Blood Test
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test is the most widely used biochemical blood tests. High levels of AFP in the blood are seen in three situations; HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma), cancer of the testes or ovaries, and liver cancer.
Can Liver Cancer Be Detected by a Blood Test?
Liver cancer is not detected by blood tests alone. Certain substances present in the blood called the blood markers may be elevated in patients with liver cancer. Raised levels of a tumor marker called alpha fetoprotein (AFP) can indicate diseases of the liver, including liver cancer.
Cancer
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.
cordyceps
Cordyceps is considered an adaptogen, a substance that is believed to help people adapt to and manage stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and is believed to enhance overall health, kidney and liver function, athletic performance, and cognitive abilities. Cordyceps is believed to have immune-boosting, antitumor, and antioxidant properties and appears to also reduce blood glucose levels and slow blood clotting process. Cordyceps is generally safe for most adults. Rare, mild side effects include stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation. Do not take cordyceps if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Does Liver Cancer Spread Quickly?
Liver cancer can spread quickly depending on the type of cancer. Hemangiosarcoma and angiosarcoma types of liver cancer are fast spreading, whereas hepatocellular carcinoma spreads late in the disease.
How Can You Detect Liver Cancer Early?
It is often hard to detect liver cancer at early stages because they do not present any symptoms until they are advanced. Small liver tumors are difficult to identify during a physical examination because most of the liver is covered by the rib cage.How Do You Get Liver Cancer?
The exact reason why you might get liver cancer is unknown. Chronic liver disease is often associated with primary liver cancer (cancer that starts in the liver).How Long Can You Live With Liver Cancer?
The overall survival rate of liver cancer patients is low, due to other underlying medical conditions, such as cirrhosis. Generally, a five-year survival rate for all stages of liver cancer is only 15%, but it can vary depending on the extent of cancer spread.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is cancer of the liver cells (hepatocellular carcinoma) or of the ducts in the liver (cholangiocarcinoma). Liver cancer often arises due to liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring) caused by alcohol use/abuse, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Liver cancer may not cause any symptoms. Liver cancer is diagnosed with blood tests, imaging tests, and a liver biopsy. Treatment for liver cancer may include surgery, ablation, embolization, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.octreotide
Octreotide is a medication used in the treatment of acromegaly, a disorder associated with excessive blood levels of growth hormone, and severe, watery diarrhea caused by certain types of gastrointestinal (GI) tumors. Common side effects of octreotide include headache, dizziness, fatigue, pain at injection site, abdominal distress, abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth (xerostomia), biliary tract disease, and others. Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding.Pain From Liver Cancer
Patients suffering from liver cancer usually complain of a throbbing or stabbing sensation in the upper right side of the abdomen or the back of the shoulder. There may or may not be a swelling that doesn’t subside. The pain may be severe; it is graded 7/10 in intensity. Some patients may not have any symptoms in the early stages of liver cancer.What Are Signs That Your Liver Is Not Functioning Properly?
Liver pain can be a sign that you have a serious health problem like cirrhosis or liver cancer. Find out more about what could be causing your liver pain and how to treat it. Patients may have worsening symptoms of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, which often precedes the development of cancer of the liver.What Are the Symptoms of Stage I Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer, hepatic cancer or hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is a cancer that begins in the liver. Normal liver cells become abnormal in appearance and behavior and grow out of control.
What Does it Mean If You Have Urobilinogen in Your Urine?
Urobilinogen is a substance that is produced when bilirubin, a waste product produced by the breakdown of red blood cells, is processed in the liver and released into the intestine. Excess urobilinogen in urine may indicate liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver damage. It is caused by drugs, toxic substances, or conditions associated with increased red blood cell destruction (hemolytic anemia). In a person with low urine urobilinogen and/or signs of liver dysfunction, it can be indicative of hepatic or biliary obstruction.What Does Pain From Liver Cancer Feel Like?
Liver cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its initial stages. When the cancer begins to show its signs and symptoms, you may feel pain in the abdomen, particularly at the top right.