Liver cancer

The liver is 80% composed of hepatocytes, the rest are fat cells, bile duct cells and blood vessels. More than 90% of all tumors starting in the liver originate from hepatocytes, so the more accurate name for this malignant tumor is hepatocellular liver cancer.

Liver cancer is the cause. Diseases and harmful factors that can cause it.

• Hepatitis B and C
• Alcohol
• Cirrhosis
• Strong drugs and drugs
• Hemochromatosis

Symptoms of liver cancer

Liver cancer at the beginning of its development may not show any symptoms, which is why most of all diseases are detected in the already started stage. The most common symptom is the increase in liver size. In addition, the pathological organ contains quite a lot of blood vessels that fill the blood with the hepatic artery, creating a characteristic noise that can be heard with a phonendoscope in patients in 50% of cases.

The manifestation of signs of severe liver disease, such as jaundice, ascites or muscle exhaustion, indicate an unfavorable development of the disease. The fact is that jaundice, for example, manifests itself only after the tumor particles enter the bile duct, which indicates the spread of metastases.

Mature cancer can metastasize to neighboring organs and tissues, while giving non-specific symptoms that depend solely on the extent and place of organ damage. Most often, the tumor gives metastases to the lungs, which get there along with the blood flow.

Diagnosis of liver cancer

• Blood test

Liver cancer can not be diagnosed with conventional blood tests, but thanks to them you can notice increased activity of liver enzymes, for example, ALT. In order to diagnose cancer, it is necessary to identify in the patient's blood specific markers (alpha-fetoprotein), which will serve as confirmation of the diagnosis.

In addition, there are a number of indirect signs, summarizing which it is possible to put this ill-fated diagnosis, but this is the prerogative of a purely laboratory doctor.

• Instrumental Research Methods

If you suspect a liver cancer, ultrasound should be performed first . Ultrasound, according to Japanese scientists, is the most indicative for diagnosing liver cancer, but only if it is done by an experienced doctor.

Computed tomography (CT) is also a very popular method of cancer research . The best results for CT are when the contrast medium is injected into the patient.

Magnetic resonance imaging will clearly show the picture of the development of the disease inside the affected organ. Modern MRI can reproduce even the smallest ducts in the tumor organ.

• Liver biopsy

No matter how ideal the technological methods of research are, the last word always remains for a biopsy. Without a liver biopsy, you can not make an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment of the patient.

Treatment of liver cancer

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the main method of treatment of liver cancer, which is used both at the very beginning of the disease, and after surgical interventions.

• Hemoembolization

Hemoembolization (blockage of small vessels of the liver) is not used as an independent method of treatment, but as an auxiliary method, with chemotherapy.

• Surgical removal

The methods of surgical removal of the tumor have been substantially updated in recent years. Today, cancer in the early stages can be removed without direct physical intervention.

No matter how deep the knowledge of mankind in oncology, liver cancer today, unfortunately, remains a deadly disease that takes thousands of human lives every year.