Liver Cancer

Malignant tumor formations developing within the liver are referred to as liver cancer. The liver is the largest internal organ of the body. It is responsible for performing many vital functions, including the removal of various wastes from the body, absorption of various nutrients, and wound healing. Located in the upper right part of the abdominal region, the liver is also responsible for bile production.

Bile secretion helps in the mechanical digestion of fats and the absorption of various vitamins and minerals. The liver stores excess glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream when necessary. Thus, during periods of hunger, it releases the stored glucose back into the bloodstream to maintain stable blood sugar levels. The liver is also responsible for neutralizing various drugs and toxins. When cancer develops in the liver tissue, it damages the cells of this organ and can prevent it from performing its functions properly.

Liver cancers are primarily divided into two main groups: primary and secondary. Primary liver cancers are types of cancer that start in the cells within this organ. Secondary liver cancers refer to cancers that originate in another organ and then spread to the liver. This condition is known as metastasis. Unlike other cells in the body, cancer cells can spread to different parts of the body after acquiring a malignant character. This spread usually occurs through the blood or lymphatic circulatory systems. For detailed information about liver cancer, you can continue reading this article.

What is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer defines cancer that begins within the liver. While this cancer can develop in various types, the most common type encountered is called hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma develops from the primary liver cell known as the hepatocyte. Besides this type, there are rarer forms of liver cancer such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma.

What Are the Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

Symptoms and signs of liver cancer include jaundice, noticeable abdominal pain on the right side, right shoulder pain, or a lump felt in the upper right area of the abdomen. In addition to these complaints, there can be non-specific symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue that are also associated with liver cancer.

During the progression of cancer in the liver, complaints such as bile duct obstruction, anemia (lack of blood), and bleeding can occur. Since there is no screening test for liver cancer, raising awareness of its symptoms is very important.

Primary liver cancer symptoms tend to appear relatively earlier. Secondary liver cancers may not show symptoms until significant damage occurs in the liver. The symptoms and signs that may occur during the progression of liver cancer are generally summarized as follows:

• Involuntary weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• General weakness and fatigue
• Abdominal bloating
• Yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes
• White, chalk-colored stools

Liver cancer is a condition caused by mutations in the DNA of liver cells. Cell DNA contains genes that control almost all cellular functions, including the life cycle and division rate of the cell. Mutations occurring in the DNA structure can lead to uncontrolled cell division by altering the instructions of these genes. As the division of cancer cells continues, the progression of the symptoms they cause also changes. Therefore, having knowledge about cancer symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.

What Are the Stages of Liver Cancer?

To plan the treatment of liver cancer, staging is first necessary. This staging generally consists of four stages.

• Stage 1: In liver cancer, the tumor tissue is found within the liver and has not affected any other organ or structure.
• Stage 2: Small tumor formations are located within the liver tissue, or a malignant tumor tissue is detected reaching the blood vessels.
• Stage 3: Multiple large tumors have affected the liver tissue, or a large tumor has been detected affecting a major blood vessel.
• Stage 4: Liver cancer has metastasized and spread to other parts of the body.

How is Liver Cancer Diagnosed?

Various methods are used for the diagnostic approach to liver cancer. Blood tests are useful in detecting problems related to liver enzymes. Imaging methods such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging can help identify the location of the cancer. In addition to blood tests and radiological examinations, a biopsy is a highly effective method for determining the structure of liver cancer.

A liver biopsy is performed by the doctor advancing a thin needle through the skin into the liver to sample tissue. The collected tissue sample is then sent to the laboratory for pathological examination under a microscope to identify the characteristics of cancer cells. The biopsy procedure carries risks such as bleeding, bruising, or infection.

After diagnosing liver cancer, doctors stage the cancer before planning treatment. Staging can be established by determining the size, location, and spread of the cancer. Bone scans and radiological imaging methods are significant tests for staging.

How is Liver Cancer Treated?

There are many different treatment interventions available for the treatment planning of liver cancer. Doctors decide on the most appropriate treatment method for the individual by considering many different features of the patient. Factors such as the location, size, and number of tumors, the extent to which liver functions are affected, the presence of cirrhosis, or whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body are considered before planning treatment. When all these factors are evaluated and treatment applications are initiated, surgical treatment methods are among the foremost:

• In the procedure called partial hepatectomy, the affected part of the liver is surgically removed. This surgery is usually applicable for liver cancers detected at an early stage. Over time, healthy liver tissue can regenerate.
• Liver transplantation (transplant), involves transplanting a liver from a suitable donor to the patient. Transplant treatment interventions can be preferred especially in non-metastatic cases. After transplantation, patients must use medication to delay rejection for life.
• In another treatment method called ablation, the destruction of the liver cancer tissue is aimed using applications such as ethanol injections, freezing, or heating. This procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, and the related area is numbed to prevent the person from feeling pain during the procedure.
• Radiotherapy applications, which aim to destroy cancer cells using high-energy radiofrequency waves, are divided into internal and external types. In external beam radiotherapy, the area where the cancer is located is targeted from the outside and subjected to high-energy radiation. In internal radiation therapy, a small amount of radioactive material is placed near or directly into the area where the cancer is located.
• In the treatment intervention called chemotherapy, strong chemical drugs are used to destroy the cells that form liver cancer.
• Targeted therapy applications are methods used to block characteristics such as the growth and blood supply of the cancer tissue. Unlike chemotherapy or radiotherapy, targeted therapies distinguish between healthy cells and cancer cells.

In addition to these treatment methods, immunotherapy interventions may also be beneficial for some individuals.

Liver cancer is generally a type of cancer where various treatment interventions can be applied. For more detailed information about this type of cancer, you can visit healthcare facilities and get support from specialist doctors.