Question 1

Are treatments for liver cancer the same as other cancers?

Accepted Answer

Cancer treatments differ from one person to another depending upon the severity of the disease. In liver cancer, most often, surgery is suggested to remove the tumour altogether. These surgeries involve radiation therapy, ablation, and catheter-directed therapy, and sometimes the entire liver is replaced with a healthy liver from a donor called liver transplantation.

Question 2

Should I be worried if I have a cyst on my liver?

Accepted Answer

A simple liver cyst is usually harmless and may not require treatment. However, it is important to ensure that it is not a Cystadenoma (a potentially pre-cancerous growth) or an infective cyst such as Hydatid, which may need further evaluation and treatment.

Question 3

If a parent had/has liver cancer, are their children at greater risk of getting it?

Accepted Answer

There are chances of getting liver cancer from parents from hereditary diseases such as Hepatitis B and C and hemochromatosis. However, this is not a significant cause of the disease in liver cancer patients.

Question 4

How to prevent liver cancer?

Accepted Answer

Liver cancer cannot be prevented entirely. It is sometimes caused due to a disease which is passed on genetically, like Hepatitis B and C, hemochromatosis. In other cases, liver cancer can be prevented by taking preventive measures such as

Limited alcoholic consumption

Using condoms during sex to avoid exposure to hepatitis C germs

Using sterilised needles while getting a tattoo or piercing done

Getting vaccinated for hepatitis B.

Maintaining a healthy weight

Maintaining healthy sugar levels in case of diabetes

Question 5

How long can a patient survive with liver cancer?

Accepted Answer

The survival rate for liver cancer depends on the condition of the liver, the stage of cancer and personal health conditions to cope with treatment procedures. If the cancer is diagnosed and treated at early stages, the survival rate is high. However, it is difficult to survive if the condition is diagnosed in the last stage of cancer. It is also important to remember that liver cancer can reoccur post-treatment procedures depending upon the lifestyle pattern followed.

Question 6

How is liver cancer detected?

Accepted Answer

There are many methods used to detect liver cancer, including imaging studies (ultrasound, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging) and routine physical exams, including blood tests. Several researchers are looking for a single blood test to help identify liver cancer much sooner. Until then, they remain vigilant and screen with various methods to try to detect this disease as early as possible.

Question 7

What is the first sign of Liver Cancer?

Accepted Answer

Like any other type of cancer, liver cancer usually has few symptoms or signs in the early stages of the disease. Early signs that may occur include:

1. Abdominal Mass or Lump: Swelling or a very hard lump in the region just below the rib cage on the right side.

2. Right-Sided Abdominal Pain: Discomfort, pain, or aching on the right side of the abdomen just under the ribs might occur due to liver tumours on other structures or nerves in this region.

3. Jaundice: A condition in which the skin, especially the white part of the eyes, appears yellow. The urine colour also becomes darker than usual, even without dehydration.

4. Weight Loss or Gain: If the weight loss or gain has nothing to do with diet or exercise, it is a cause for concern. Such a condition is found to be related to cancer, including liver cancer.

5. Loss of Appetite: A loss of appetite may occur with many disorders but can be quite profound with liver problems.

6. Nausea and Vomiting: All stages of liver cancer show the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

7. Fatigue or Weakness: Cancer fatigue is different from ordinary tiredness. It's an overwhelming sense of tiredness, often described as 'whole body' tiredness, that persists despite rest.

Question 8

Can a blood test detect liver cancer?

Accepted Answer

Some liver cancers can be detected in high-risk individuals through a combination of blood tests and imaging. Important tests include:

Liver Function Tests (LFTs) – to check liver enzymes and bilirubin levels

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) – a tumour marker that may be elevated in liver cancer

PIVKA-II – another tumour marker useful in hepatocellular carcinoma

While these tests can support early detection, no single blood test can definitively diagnose liver cancer. Imaging and, when needed, a biopsy are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Question 9

What are the different stages of Liver Cancer?

Accepted Answer

Staging usually refers to where the cancer is located. There are several staging systems for liver cancer, and not all doctors use the same system. Here is the TNM system, which is based on 3 key pieces of information:

The extent (size) of the tumour (T): How large has the cancer tumour grown? Is there more than one tumour in the liver? Has cancer reached nearby structures like the veins in the liver?

The spread to nearby lymph nodes (N): Has cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes?

The spread (metastasis) to distant sites (M): Has cancer spread to lymph nodes or organs such as the bones or lungs?

Question 10

How does liver cancer spread?

Accepted Answer

Like other cancers, liver cancer may spread in three ways, and they are:

Liver cancer cells can spread to nearby organs after breaking off from the primary tumour.

Once the cancer cells reach nearby lymph nodes, they spread to other body parts through lymphatic circulation.

The circulatory system is also a way through which liver cancer cells within the bloodstream form new tumours anywhere in the body.

Question 11

What test will show that my liver cancer is spreading?

Accepted Answer

After diagnosing the liver, physician will find out how advanced it is. By doing some of the following tests, your physician will detect the additional tumours.

X-rays

Ultrasound

CT scan (CAT Scans)

PET scan (positron emission tomography)

MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging)

Biopsy

Question 12

What are the signs of liver cancer spreading?

Accepted Answer

When liver cancer is in the advanced stage, it starts spreading to other parts of the body; it is referred to as metastatic liver cancer. Here, we've mentioned metastatic liver cancer signs that vary depending on the location of a new tumour. When liver cancer spreads to the bones, it becomes the determinant of bone fractures. The very prevalent signs of metastatic liver cancer are:

Abdominal pain

Loss of hunger

Unexplained weight loss

Nausea

Pale skin

Jaundice

Abdominal swelling

Fever

Itching

Unit blood / Black stool

If you are undergoing treatment for your liver cancer and have these symptoms, consult your doctor.