Liver Cancer: Sure Killer

Liver cancer is the third common cancer in the world today. It is a deadly cancer, it will kill almost all patient who have it within a year. In 2000, it was estimated that there were about 564,400 new cases of liver cancer worldwide, and a similar number of patients died as a result of this disease. 

There are many forms of liver cancer and this has cancer also different causes.

Liver cancer causes:

Hepatitis B infection
Hepatitis B can be caught from contaminated blood products or used needles or sexual contact but is frequently among Asian children from contamination at birth or even biting among children at play. In addition, the patients with hepatitis B virus who are at greater risk for liver cancer are men with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and a family history of liver cancer.

How does chronic HBV cause liver cancer? In patient with both chronic HBV and liver cancer, the genetic material of hepatitis B virus frequently found to be part of the genetic material of the cancer cells. It is thought, therefore, that specific regions of the HBV genome (gentic code) enter the genetic material of the liver cells. This HBV genetic material may then disrupt the normal genetic material in the liver cells, thereby causing the liver cells to become cancerous.

Hepatitis C infection
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is more difficult to get than hepatitis B. it usually requires direct contact with the infected blood, either from the contaminated blood product or needles. HCV is also associated with the development of liver cancer.

In HCV patients, the risk factors for developing liver cancer includes the presence of cirrhosis, older age, male gender, elevated baseline alpha-fetoprotein level (blood tumor marker), alcohol use and co-infection with HBV.

However a 2009 study suggested that l-carnitine deficiency is a risk factor for liver cancer, and that supplementation with it could reduce the risk.

Photo credit: www.wellsphere.com

There are no specific symptoms of liver cancer in the early stage. As the disease progresses symptoms begins to appear. Due to the delayed onset of symptoms, liver cancer is often diagnosed in an advance stage.
Symptoms of liver cancer:
*jaundice (condition that causes the yellowing of thye eyes)
*unintentional weight loss
*loss of appetite
*pain and discomfort on the right side of the abdomen
*pain and discomfort on the right shoulder blade area

Other liver symptoms that may experienced are fever, general fatigue that is not relieved with rest, and nausea and/or vomiting. Symptoms can appear seperately or together.

These liver cancer symptoms can be nonspecific, if you have them just consult your doctor on how your liver is functioning may need to be evaluated.

At this time, surgery offers the only like chance to cure liver cancer. Surgery is done either to remove the tumor or to do a liver transplant. If all of the cancer that the surgeon can see at the time of the operation can be removed, you have the best outlook for survival. But complete removal of most liver cancers is not possible. Often the cancer is large, is found in the many different parts of the liver, or has spread beyond the liver. Also, many people with cirrhosis do not have enough healthy liver left to make surgry an option.

Let's take care of our health for it is the only wealth we have. Avoid cancer by avoiding whatever things it may cause.



Resources: www.medicinenet.com
                   cancer.about.com
                   en.wikipedia.org