Liver cancer

Liver cancer – what to do and why is it dangerous?

Liver cancer is a malignant neoplasm that ranks 6th among other types of cancer. It is most often diagnosed in people over 50 years of age, but can occur at any age. It can be primary and secondary. Primary cancer accounts for approximately 3-5% of all liver cancers. In this case, the liver tumor develops from its own cells. If a secondary cancer is diagnosed, the primary tumor occurs in other organs, and then metastases form in the liver.

This is an aggressive disease, in many forms of which there is rapid growth and numerous metastases. However, accurate diagnosis, modern methods of treatment and an individual approach make it possible to fight the disease even in the most severe cases. Therefore, if liver cancer is diagnosed, you need to look for good doctors who specialize in the treatment of this pathology and select therapy options.

Causes of liver cancer

If we talk about primary liver cancer, the immediate cause of its development is the mutation of the cells of the tissues of this organ. Among the factors that can provoke such mutations are the following:

• chronic hepatitis B and C (this viral infection is found in 80% of cases when cancer is diagnosed);
• liver cirrhosis (this disease is present in about 70% of people with liver cancer);
• alcoholic hepatitis (against the background of prolonged alcohol abuse, hepatitis first develops, and then a malignant neoplasm may occur);
• cholelithiasis (may lead to chronic inflammation, which over time can provoke a malignant process);
• frequent ingestion of aflatoxins with food (these carcinogens are produced by molds);
• the presence of parasites in the liver (schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, amoebiasis, etc.);
• long-term use of anabolic steroids;
• medicinal hepatitis;
• hemochromatosis;
• hereditary predisposition.

Secondary cancer develops as a result of cancer cells of other types of cancer that are localized in other organs (for example, breast, lungs, etc.) entering the organ. This is a very common occurrence. So, for example, in colorectal cancer, in 25% of cases, metastases occur in the liver.

Types of liver cancer

Doctors divide liver cancer into several types, among which the most common are:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma. It is the most common malignant tumor of the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is formed from mutated liver cells.
• Angioplasty sarcoma (angiosarcoma). A rare type of cancer, very aggressive. Liver sarcoma grows very rapidly and metastasizes.
• Hepatoblastoma. It is usually diagnosed in young children under 5 years of age.
• Cholangiocarcinoma. It occurs relatively rarely. The tumor is formed from the cells of the bile ducts.
• Adenocarcinoma. It arises from the glandular tissue of the liver.
• Fibrolamellar carcinoma. It is usually diagnosed in children and young people under 35 years of age.
• Cystadenocarcinoma. A very rare type of neoplasm in the liver.
• Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. A less aggressive type of tumor, which nevertheless also often metastasizes.
• Undifferentiated sarcoma. It is characterized by rapid growth and is difficult to treat.

What are the symptoms and early signs of liver cancer?

Liver cancer is a very dangerous disease. And the sooner it is diagnosed, the greater the chance of defeating the disease. Therefore, at the first sign of it, it is important to immediately consult a doctor. Among the first symptoms of pathology:

• increased fatigue;
• loss of appetite;
• possible nausea and vomiting;
• causeless weight loss;
• intermittent pain in the hypochondrium;
• the appearance of subfebrile temperature;
• spider veins on the skin;
• skin itching.

These are nonspecific manifestations, which many patients do not pay attention to, skipping the initial stages of the disease. In the later stages of liver cancer, signs may increase and new symptoms may be added, which depend on the stage of the disease.

Stages of liver cancer

• 1st stage. The liver tumor is small, does not affect large vessels and does not extend beyond the organ. It almost does not manifest itself in any way, although weakness, fatigue, discomfort in the right hypochondrium may already occur.
• 2nd stage. There may be one neoplasm or several, medium-sized. Large vessels are not yet involved in the malignant process, but small ones can already be captured by the tumor. Nausea, indigestion, severe abdominal pain, constant severe weakness appear, the liver noticeably increases in size.
• 3rd stage. Large vessels may be involved, and the tumor may extend beyond the organ. At this stage, metastases appear in nearby lymph nodes and closely located organs. There is a sharp weight loss, there is swelling of the legs and lower back, the body temperature can rise to 37-39 degrees, and very poor overall health.
• 4th stage. The patient is noticeably severely emaciated, while the abdomen is greatly enlarged due to the development of ascites, severe swelling of the lower body, severe pain, liver failure progresses, nose and intestinal bleeding often occurs. Massive metastases appear, affecting both nearby and distant organs.

When determining the stages of liver cancer, doctors also use the TNM system, where each letter indicates certain characteristics of the neoplasm:

• T – of tumor size;
• N – involvement of lymph nodes in the malignant process;
• M – metastases to other organs.

Where do liver cancer metastases spread?

Metastases can spread throughout the body in three ways: with the blood flow, with the lymph flow, and by the growth of the neoplasm into other tissues. The lymph nodes, which are located near the liver in the abdominal cavity, are usually the first to be affected. Then, in the later stages of the disease, metastasis occurs to other organs and tissues. Most often, metastases are found in the lungs, spine, ribs, and brain.

Today, even at the most advanced stages of the malignant process, doctors can choose a fairly effective therapy. With its help, you can significantly slow down the growth of neoplasms, reduce symptoms and improve the patient’s well-being. To learn more about treatment options for any stage of liver cancer, contact us!

Methods for diagnosing liver cancer

In order to choose the most effective treatment for liver cancer, you need to determine the form and stage of the disease as accurately as possible. For this, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out, which may include the following studies:

• Blood tests. These include blood biochemistry, coagulogram (blood clotting), analysis for the oncomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). An analysis is also made for viral hepatitis and a number of genetic diseases.
• Ultrasound The method allows doctors to determine the location of the neoplasm.
• CT and PET scan. It can show how much the tumor has spread in the liver tissues and get more information about its structural features.
• MRI. It can show how much the tumor has affected the blood vessels and will allow doctors to study the structure of the tumor in more detail.
• Biopsy. A study that makes it possible to determine a group of cells and, accordingly, accurately diagnose the type of cancer. During a biopsy under the control of ultrasound or CT, a fragment of tumor tissue is taken, after which a histological examination of these tissues is done in the laboratory. This allows doctors to make the most accurate diagnosis.

Liver cancer treatment

In order for the treatment to be as productive as possible with the diagnosis of liver cancer, it must be selected individually in each case. Today, a lot of methods are used in liver oncology, which can be used alone or in combination with each other.

• Operation. If the tumor is operable, doctors recommend removing it. Often, along with the tumor, the segment of the organ in which it is located is removed. The liver has very good regenerative capabilities and recovers quickly.
• Local destruction. The method can be performed using cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation. The essence of this method is that the destruction of the tumor is carried out using low temperatures or high-energy radio waves. It is usually prescribed in cases where surgery is not possible.
• Transplantation. If the cancer has not spread to other organs, liver transplantation can be an effective treatment option to completely get rid of the pathology.
• Radiation therapy. Radiological methods are also actively used to influence cancer cells. A modern radiological method is stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), the use of which makes it possible to irradiate the tumor with high accuracy and intensity.
• Chemotherapy. It involves the use of drugs that destroy cancer cells and slow down their division.
• Chemoembolization. A fairly effective method of treatment, which is often used today in foreign clinics. When using this method, drugs are administered in high concentrations directly through the vessels of the liver. In addition, special substances are introduced into the vessels that supply the tumor with blood, which block the blood flow. Thus, the nutrition of the neoplasm stops, which stops or noticeably slows down its growth. This technique is used both for primary tumors and for liver metastases.
• Target therapy. The technique involves the use of special preparations that target malignant cells, while healthy tissues of the body practically do not suffer.
• Immunotherapy. Includes several treatments that are aimed at activating the body’s own immunity against cancer. For example, drugs can be used that can block substances released by the tumor in order to protect against the immune system. After that, the body itself can actively fight the neoplasm. Another method of immunotherapy is the use of antitumor vaccines.

Vaccines in the treatment of liver cancer

Antitumor vaccines are an area of immunotherapy that is actively developing today. Vaccination with special cancer drugs can slow down the progression of malignant diseases or avoid recurrence. There are several types of cancer vaccines:

• Autovaccine. For the manufacture of this vaccine, tissue from the patient’s tumor is taken. Antigens are obtained from them, which are then modified with cytotoxic lectins. Such a vaccine activates a person’s own immune system, and it begins to fight cancer cells. An autovaccine is produced individually, since neoplasm tissues are needed for its production. Such vaccination is usually combined with traditional methods of treating malignant diseases, which significantly improves the overall effect of therapy.
• Xenovaccine. This type of vaccine is made from animal fetal proteins that are similar to cancer antigens. In order for these proteins to acquire the desired activity, they are transformed under the influence of special cytotoxic proteins. After the xenovaccine enters the body, the immune system begins to actively respond to cancer cells, attacking them.

These cancer vaccines are used as part of complex therapy in the treatment of cancer. Their use can significantly improve prognosis and avoid the recurrence of the tumor process. You can get more information about the possibility of using vaccines in the treatment of malignant diseases from the medical coordinator of MedTour.

Liver cancer – prognosis. How many years can a person with liver cancer live?

Compared to other types of cancer, liver cancer is generally more severe. However, much depends on the stage of the disease, the type of oncological pathology, the characteristics of the distribution, and the general state of human health.

It is believed that if the tumor in the liver is up to 2 cm in size, then with the right treatment, the survival rate is more than 95%. If the neoplasm in the liver is more than 5 cm and metastases have already appeared, then the prognosis is rather unfavorable. However, these are general trends, a more accurate forecast is made individually. But even with severe forms of the disease and in the later stages, there is the possibility of treating the pathology. Leading-edge cancer clinics today offer treatments that deliver good results, prolong life noticeably, and improve well-being in a variety of health conditions.

The best clinics for the treatment of liver cancer

On the MedTour platform you can find the best clinics for the treatment of liver cancer. We work with medical centers around the world that are engaged in the study and treatment of liver cancer at all stages, using the latest drugs and effective techniques. To choose the clinic that best suits you, sign up for a free consultation!

The best doctors for the treatment of liver cancer

A good doctor is one of the necessary conditions for effective treatment. An experienced specialist will help to determine the nuances of the condition as accurately as possible, see the big picture and develop the optimal therapy tactics.

MedTour cooperates with the best oncologists who occupy high positions in the world rankings. Medical coordinators of MedTour will help you find a doctor that will best suit your medical needs and meet your wishes.