October has been declared Liver Cancer Awareness Month and represents the chance to make people feel more aware of this chronic condition that is killing thousands around the world. But what is liver cancer? In other words, liver cancer is a disease in which cells in the liver multiply while losing their normal function. What is referred to as one of the body’s janitors may well be the very thing to prevent it. It serves the function of cleaning the blood by eliminating its toxic substances, processing and absorbing food, and even storing some energy.
Liver cancer is so dangerous that it upsets the overall behavior of the human being. Hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, is the most prevalent of them all. This particular type originates from the primary cells of the liver, referred to as hepatocytes. Other forms may originate in alternate sites or elsewhere and invade the liver.
The Challenges of Liver Cancer
Liver disease is silent due to its danger levels, which are increased by the fact that most liver cancers do not present symptoms in their early stages. That is, there are no signs of the disease for most people until it has spread significantly. This is why it is essential for one to be educated on the condition and undertake more frequent check-ups.
However, when symptoms are present, they may feature weight loss, easy satiety, abdominal distension, right-sided abdominal pain, and jaundice, which is the white of the eye and skin turning yellow. Should you observe any of these signs, you should see a physician without delay. However, know that people with these symptoms do not necessarily have liver cancer, but it is safe to be screened and excluded.
Liver Cancer Risk Assessment: Who has the highest risk?
Comprehending Liver cancer in a particular population may be very interesting. However, some individuals present with risk factors that significantly outweigh others. Recognition of the level of risk associated with an individual can influence some protective measures toward that individual. Besides chronic viral hepatitis C, the following known conditions increase a person’s risk of liver cancer:
- Chronic liver diseases are the most significant risk factor for liver cancer. Hepatitis B and C viruses and other liver-badger infections can also lead to this condition. Chronic infections, especially untreated ones, tend to heighten the likelihood of developing liver carcinoma.
- Cirrhosis stands as an additional major contributing factor. This refers to the damage and subsequent formation of fibrous tissues within the liver due to prolonged irritation. This can be occasioned by consistent intake of alcohol, some genetic disorders, or even chronic obesity, amongst others. The fibrotic change impairs the function of the liver and serves to increase the risk of cancer.
- Heavy and regular consumption of alcohol over prolonged periods can cause liver complications that predispose individuals to liver cancer. It is not only the quantity consumed within one sitting that matters but also the total volume consumed over several years.
- Excess fat or obesity also places one at risk. Being overweight can predispose an individual to develop fatty liver disease.
- Some diseases that you could inherit may also increase your chances. Examples include hemochromatosis (where the body has accumulated excess iron) and Wilson’s status (where the body has excessive copper).
- Some toxicity also comes in the form of chemicals, such as aflatoxins, which are found in dried seeds that are out of the reach of certain climatic conditions, or even vinyl chloride, which is used for making siding, among other products.
Taking Action: How to Lower Your Risk
Now that we know what can increase the risk of liver cancer let’s speak about what you can do to protect yourself. As stated earlier, there are many measures available to help reduce the risk:
- Take hepatitis B vaccine which is an immunization dose to this respective virus (Hepatitis B Virus) that can contribute to the liver cancer.
- If you suffer from hepatitis C, take measures to resolve it. Unlike hepatitis B vaccines, Hepatitis C has no vaccine yet. Nevertheless, the currently available medicines can clear the infection without residual liver damage.
- Reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages: In the event you wish to take alcohol, do so in low amounts. This implies taking women not more than one drink every day and men not more than two.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Everyone is aware of the fact that physical exercise puts you away from fatty liver or liver cancer.
- Avoid contact with toxins: If you handle such dangerous equipment, please adhere to all precautionary measures. In addition, proper food storage must be enhanced to avoid mold growth, which produces aflatoxins.
- Get periodic health assessments: Whenever you have conditions associated with increased liver cancer risk, e.g., cirrhosis, or chronic hepatitis,…then it is beneficial to undergo medical check-ups routinely as it helps prevent problems from escalating.
Early Detection: Catching Liver Cancer in Its Incipience
The earlier one is able to detect liver cancer, the healthier treatment is likely to be. In such cases, prophylactic screening examinations are likely to be suggested. For example, high-risk patients might be offered preventive measures. These include:
- Blood test can measure the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) protein concentration in blood. Because AFP can lead to primary liver cancer.
- Imaging is a less invasive procedure but allows the physician to look at the internal parts of the body. Besides, ultrasound scans are usually done, especially to look for liver cancer. Here, sound waves are used to picture the liver. In addition to these procedures, CT scans and MRIs are done if there is a suspicious lesion on the ultrasound.
- These tests could also be limited in the same manner. In some instances, they may also show false negative results for an existing cancerous tumor or show a false positive result when there is no tumor in the body. For this reason, those tests are generally carried out only on a narrow set of individuals, and it is important to consider the pros and cons along with your doctor.
Treatment: Fighting Liver Cancer
Should liver cancer be diagnosed, several treatment modalities can be employed. The most appropriate treatment regime will depend on the size of the tumor, its availability, and your general outlook. Specific treatments are in everyday use:
- Where cancer occurs in the nascent stages combined with good liver function on the part of the patient, surgery may be considered the primary course of management. Here, the physicians may either perform a partial hepatectomy or, in some extreme cases, the patient’s diseased liver may be substituted with a preserved one from an external individual (liver transplant).
- Ablation therapy involves using either thermal energy or cryotherapy to target and destroy cancerous lesions. It may be considered for small tumors situated in locations where surgery cannot be performed.
- The principle behind embolization is interrupting the blood supply to the tumor in the hope of reducing its size or eliminating it completely. It is done when the tumor is inoperable. It is a form of cancer treatment where focused beams of high-energy radiation kill cancerous cells. New technologies have enabled doctors to concentrate the radiation to preserve healthy liver tissues.
- Targeted drug therapies are medicines that exploit known weaknesses in cancer cells. These medications may, at times, reduce the tumor or limit its growth. This approach enhances the individual’s ability to eliminate tumor cells. This therapy is still in the early stages of development and may be helpful in some patients with advanced liver cancer.
When an individual has liver cancer, it is not just treatment; it is everything.
As important as it is to treat a patient with liver cancer, there is much more to it, which is why liver cancer is not easy to cope with. It often causes a strain both physically and mentally. Here are some things worth considering:
Seek help: Family, friends, or a therapist can certainly help simplify the process. Many hospitals, cancer treatment centers, and even online websites have others like you and offer support services.
Control adverse effects: Cancer management procedures can have adverse effects. It would help if you did not shy away from discussing your concerns with your healthcare team. As living with liver cancer is a severe condition, addressing the illness is significant, though it is not the sole focus. Fighting cancer and the processes involved are complicated in all aspects, more so in this instance. Here are some of them worth mentioning:
Assistance: A spouse, friend, or even a therapist can certainly ease things out. Many hospitals, cancer treatment resorts, and even some such centers on the web have people like you providing such assistance.
Take care of the whole body: The ratio of healthy food intake as well as physical and mental workouts. Amply strenuous activities should be undertaken in such a way as to give periods of rest to enhance recovery and treatment efficacy.
Control adverse effects: Oncology therapy contains procedures that might be detrimental to the patient. You do not need to shy away from praying about such issues with the healthcare team.
Hope for the Future: Advances in Liver Cancer Research
Advanced Liver Cancer Treatments: The only consolation, however, is that liver cancer is not a mild disease. Researchers constantly try to find improved prevention, detection, and treatment methods. Some of the promising areas include:
New screening methods: Studies are being conducted to find early liver cancer detection techniques and tests, including novel blood tests that may outperform the present tests.
Innovative techniques: Scientists are researching different approaches and drugs to discover the ideal ways to treat liver cancer.
Targeted therapy: This strategy modifies the treatment to target each individual’s liver cancer and genetics.
Prevention strategies: Research studies are also focusing on the prevention of primary liver cancer in groups of people at high risk, including new anti-hepatitis medications for cancer prevention.
Why Awareness is Important – Let Us Spread Appropriate Awareness and Education
Speaking of Liver Cancer Awareness Month is not only about wearing orange ribbons or posting informative messages on social media (although those are also beneficial). It calls for action to keep oneself and others safe, which is why they are concerned.
Regarding the Issues of Liver Cancer Awareness – Why is it Important?
One reason to promote awareness is that early treatment increases the chances of survival.
This is something that can be achieved. Lifestyle improvement and medications such as hepatitis b vaccination are two preventative measures. Many cases of liver cancer are preventable. Awareness can help people make lifestyle changes or get vaccinated to reduce risk.
Funding Increase: Increased awareness will result in more funds available for liver cancer research and more effective treatment solutions.
Reducing stigma: Certain individuals consider liver cancer a source of disgrace due to the disease’s link with drinking and viral hepatitis. In this case, publicity comes in handy and aids in making people seek assistance.
Conclusion:
So, to commemorate this Liver Cancer Awareness month, take some time off and learn about the liver and how to ensure you maintain it. Share what you have learned with other people. If you are at risk, please ask your physician about the appropriate screening. And should liver cancer affect you or someone within your circle of friends, know that you are not alone. Due to raising awareness, liver cancer is now more treatable and preventable in the early stages for many people diagnosed with the disease.
Your liver performs so much for you day after day. Therefore, this month and every month in the future, let us reciprocate by taking good care of it.