It is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, which affects more than 800,000 people each year as per reports. Effective treatments are available such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Oncology in Siliguri offers comprehensive and personalized treatment for liver cancer for the best possible healing and management.
Liver cancer comes in primary and secondary forms. Your liver is where primary cancer begins. Your liver becomes affected by secondary cancer that has spread from another area of your body.
What is Liver Cancer? – Let’s Explain
This cancer originates in the cells of the liver, an organ vital for detoxifying your blood, producing proteins, and aiding digestion. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is responsible for about 85-90% of all primary liver cancer cases.
HCC begins in the main liver cells known as hepatocytes. It is a fast-growing and aggressive form of liver cancer, which is more common in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
Other, rarer forms of liver cancer include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (or bile duct cancer) and hepatoblastoma.About 10-20% of all primary liver cancers are intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma while Angiosarcoma affects about 1% of primary liver cancer.
Most typically diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 64, HCC and IHC affect more males than women. Talk to the top liver cancer specialist in Siliguri for optimal care and recovery.
What are the Symptoms?
Primary liver cancer at the early stage may not show prominent signs and symptoms. Here the symptoms include:
- Losing weight without trying
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Abdominal swelling
- Itching
- Upper abdominal pain
- General weakness
- The fullness of the ribs on the left side
- General fatigue
- Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- White or chalky stools
Knowing the Causes and Risk Factors
In many cases, including chronic hepatitis infections, the cause of liver cancer is known. However, liver cancer can occasionally strike persons who have no underlying medical conditions, and its exact etiology is unknown.
Risk factors for liver cancer:
- Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Chronic infection of hepatitis C virus
- Liver inflammation or cirrhosis
- Hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Too much alcohol intake
Let’s Understand the Treatment of Liver Cancer
- Diagnosing Liver Cancer
Diagnostic steps or tests for liver cancer include:
- Blood Tests
- Ultrasound, CT scans, and MRIs
- Biopsy in which tissue sample will be taken to confirm the diagnosis
- Angiogram to examine the blood vessels in the liver
- Bone scans
Treating Liver Cancer: What are the Options?
The treatment plan for liver cancer depends on some factors, such as the severity of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, the location of the cancerous tumor, and whether the cancer has spread. Get the best possible treatment in Oncology in Siliguri for liver cancer. Here’s a closer look at current treatment options:
Surgery
- Partial hepatectomy may be recommended if the tumor is small and confined to a specific section of the liver.
- Liver transplant is for certain patients, particularly those with small tumors and cirrhosis, a liver transplant can be a life-saving option, as it replaces the damaged liver with a healthy one from a donor.
Ablation Therapy
Ablation techniques help destroy cancer cells without surgery, especially for patients who are not candidates for surgery, such as:
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Cryoablation to freeze cancer cells
Embolization Therapy
It treatment may be an option when surgery isn’t viable.Embolization therapy involves blocking the blood supply to the cancer cells through methods such as transarterial chemotherapy (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE).
Targeted Therapy
In this cancer treatment, targeted drugs treat liver cancer by attacking specific cancer cell pathways.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy in liver cancer helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight liver cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
This treatment is particularly helpful for small, localized tumors in which the cancer specialist tactfully directs high-powered energy beams.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be part of a combination therapy approach in certain cases, especially in advanced liver cancer.
With the right approach to treatment, you can fight liver cancer and ensure effective health management. Talk to your cancer specialist in Siliguri today.
