Know Your Disease
Liver Cancer
Basics of Liver Cancer
Liver cancer, also called hepatocellular cancer, is a cancer that occurs only in the liver. If cancer originates in a different part of the body and spreads to the liver, it is known as liver metastases. Tumours that are produced in the intestines, lungs, breasts, pancreas, stomach and other organs and spread to the liver through the bloodstream also give rise to liver cancer, says the renowned cancer doctor in Kolkata.
Symptoms
Initially, the symptoms of liver cancer may not appear at all. The patient will begin to witness some of the symptoms once the liver begins to swell. However, there may be other causes besides liver cancer that can cause inflammation in the liver. The following are some of the symptoms that you may feel if you have been diagnosed with liver cancer.
- Unexpected weight-loss
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundice
- Swelling or fluid build-up in the patient’s abdominal area
- A large liver
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Itching
It is advisable that you go for a diagnostic test and let the physician interpret the results
Causes
Many factors contribute to liver cancer in Kolkata. Some of these are listed below.
- Cirrhosis is the condition that damages the liver cells, which get replaced with scar tissue. People with this health condition are more likely to get liver cancer.
- Hepatitis B infection
- NASH or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.• Family history can also be the cause in some cases
- Alcohol abuse and smoking
- Prolonged use of anabolic steroids can significantly increase the risk of liver cancer
Aflatoxins are substances produced by fungi and are found in dark wheat, peanuts, corn, nuts, soybeans, and peanuts. Consuming these food items can lead to tumours in the liver.
Treatment Options
Experienced doctors of liver cancer in Kolkata use two treatment options. Transplant and non-transplant options
Transplantation
Liver transplant is an alternative to surgical treatment where the whole liver is replaced by a healthy one by surgery. It is an elaborate process and is divided into two types:
Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation (DDLT):
In this condition, the patient’s diseased liver is replaced by a healthy liver from a donor who has recently died. To take advantage of DDLT, doctors have to perform a number of tests to determine if the patient is suitable for transplantation. Once the tests are done, patients are admitted to the waiting list for a liver transplant.
Live Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT):
In this condition, the patient with the diseased liver receives a portion of the liver from a family member or friend. The entire damaged liver is replaced with a healthy one, which later increases to its normal size. It is a preferred transplant option where the patient needs immediate transplantation and DDLT is not possible.
Radiofrequency ablation:
Also known as RFA, it is a non-transplant surgical option used to destroy cancerous cells. It is a low invasive medical procedure performed using local anaesthesia. This treatment uses an image guide to insert a skin needle into a liver tumour. With the help of the probe, a highfrequency electric current passes through the needle which generates heat to destroy the cancer cells. The success rate of RFA is high and is a recommended option where surgery is not possible.
Partial Hepatectomy:
The entire portion of the liver, from the small section to the entire lobe, is removed by the best cancer surgeon in Kolkata.