Liver Cancer

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer occurs when normal cells in the liver turn into abnormal cells and grow uncontrollably. The liver is a large organ located in the upper right side of the belly.

Liver cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. Some people might feel a lump, mild pain in the upper belly, feel full quickly when eating, or lose weight.

What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

Some people with liver cancer may experience symptoms due to other liver diseases they had before, which could get worse or return because of cancer. These symptoms include:

• Swelling of the belly or legs

• Yellowing of the skin or the white part of the eyes

Is there a test for liver cancer?

Yes. If a doctor suspects liver cancer, they may perform one or more of these tests:

• Blood tests

• Imaging tests such as MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound to check for abnormal growths

• Biopsy, where a small piece of liver tissue is removed and examined under a microscope

What is liver cancer staging?

Cancer staging is the process doctors use to determine whether cancer has spread beyond its original location and, if so, how far it has spread.

How is liver cancer treated?

Treatment for liver cancer depends on its stage and how healthy the liver is. Treatment options include:

• Surgery to remove part of the liver with cancer

• Liver transplant, replacing a diseased liver with a healthy one from another person

• Ablation therapy, a procedure that kills cancer cells in the liver using heat, microwaves, laser, or radiation

• Blocking the cancer’s blood supply through a procedure called embolization, sometimes combined with chemotherapy or radiation

• Immunotherapy, which uses medicines to help the body’s immune system stop cancer growth

• Chemotherapy, which involves medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing