Cancer of the liver

Unlike other cancers which originate in another organ and spreads to the liver (liver metastasis), liver cancer starts originally in the liver.

An understanding of liver functions is vital in order to have knowledge of liver cancer.
Liver consists of various cell types, and thus several distinct tumor types – growths or tumors on or in the liver, may develop in the liver.

How is liver cancer discovered? Liver tumors are discovered using medical imaging. It may be discovered incidentally when performing imaging for a different disease rather than the cancer itself.

It may also present symptoms, such as abdominal pain, abdominal mass, nausea, jaundice, or other liver dysfunction.

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer does not have any symptoms in the early stages.
The symptoms include: general fatigue and weakness; unexplained weight loss; loss of appetite; swelling of abdomen; enlarged liver; yellow skin and whites of the eyes; upper abdomen pain; and nausea.

Liver Cancer Causes

The cause of liver cancer is still unclear. A study done in 2009 showed that deficiency in l-carnitine is a cancer risk factor. Taking l-carnitine supplements reduce this risk.
When there are changes to the liver cells development in the DNA caused by mutations, cancer occurs. The cells begin to grow out of control and subsequently, a tumor - malignant cells mass, is formed.

In some cases, the cancer is caused by certain hepatitis viruses.

Types of Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - The most common liver cancer type in both adults and children. It usually starts in the main liver cell - hepatocytes.

Cholangiocarcinoma - It begins within the liver in small bile ducts which are shaped like tubes, also known as cancer of the bile duct.

Hepatoblastoma - A rare liver cancer type which affects children from ages 1 – 4 years. Most children with this form of cancer are treatable.

Hemangiosarcoma or Angiosarcoma - A rare liver cancer which starts in the liver's blood vessels and it grows quickly.

Liver Cancer Treatment

What are the treatments available? Treatments include: surgery to remove part of the liver or transplant for early stages of the cancer; cancer cells heating; cancer cells freezing; injecting alcohol into tumor.



Alcohol is known to dry out the tumor cells and they eventually die; chemotherapy drugs; radiation - side effects include nausea, fatigue, and vomiting; and Sorafenib, also known as Nexavar, is a targeted drug to prevent the tumor from generating new blood vessels.

Liver Cancer Prognosis- liver cancer survival rate

In 1995 – 2001, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for liver cancer was 9%. The 5-year relative liver cancer survival rates by sex and race were: white men - 7.4%; white women - 10.6%; black men - 5.5%; and black women - 4.6%.

The above survival rates for liver cancer are based on relative data - a measurement of the cancer effect of the patients' survival as compared to the general population