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Liver Cancer
What is Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer occurs when liver cells are not normal and develop into a tumor since they do not grow in a regular manner and become cancerous. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most prevalent form of liver cancer, developing in the very large liver cells. It is caused by infection with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and alcoholism.
Liver Cancer Types
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
•Most frequent liver cancer, HCC begins in hepatocytes, the major liver cells. It's most often related to chronic liver disease like hepatitis B or C and cirrhosis. Early detection guarantees effective treatment.
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
•This cancer develops in the bile ducts inside the liver. While less frequent, it's typically aggressive and commonly diagnosed late. Certain liver diseases and bile duct disease are risk factors.
Hepatoblastoma
•A type of liver cancer that occurs only in children below the age of three years. It begins in cells that are still immature in the liver and can be easily treated if early discovered and subjected to surgery and chemotherapy.
Angiosarcoma
•A very sinister and rare type of cancer that originates in the blood vessels of the liver. Most times related to exposure to some chemicals, it's always late when it is diagnosed and thus treatment is hard.
Liver Cancer Symptoms
- •Unexplained weight loss is one of the presenting symptoms of liver cancer, usually with loss of appetite and fatigue.
What’s Notable
Silent Progression: Liver cancer seldom becomes symptomatic until advanced stages, hence screening and early diagnosis are essential.
Global Burden: Liver cancer is the third leading cancer mortality globally, claiming over 800,000 lives yearly.
HCC Incidence: Nearly 75% of all liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).
When to Seek Help
- Chronic Fatigue :Long-standing fatigue that is not alleviated by rest may be an indication of liver malfunction and should be evaluated by a physician. - Loss of Appetite : Unexplained loss of appetite, especially if accompanied by other signs and symptoms, should cause a patient to visit a physician. - Dark Urine : Dark urine is one of the symptoms of liver disease affecting the breakdown of bile. - Itchy Skin: Itching that recurs without a rash may be caused by bile salt buildup as a result of liver disease. - Easy Bleeding or Bruising : Easy bruising or bleeding is caused by the inability of the liver to help with clotting.
Liver Cancer Causes & Risk Factors
Chronic Hepatitis B or C Infection
Sustained infection of the liver by Hepatitis B or C virus greatly increases the risk of liver cancer due to ongoing liver inflammation
Cirrhosis
Alcohol or fatty liver disease scarring of the liver increases the cancer risk
Excessive Drinking
Years of excessive drinking kills off liver cells and leads to cirrhosis and increases the risk of skin cancer
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Irrelevant fat storage in the liver is capable of causing cirrhosis and risk of cancer.
Aflatoxin Exposure
Ingestion of food that is contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxin produced by some molds, is a proven risk factor for liver cancer.
Liver Cancer Diagnosis
Initial Symptoms & Check-up
Step 1: Comprehensive Diagnosis Various imaging tests, blood tests such as AFP, and liver function tests are performed to establish the type, extent of the cancer and any underlying condition of the liver
Liver Cancer Treatment & Therapy
Chemotherapy
What it does:
Destroys fast-growing liver cancer cells using powerful drugs.
Treated for:
Not typically used; used only for widespread HCC or if other options don't work.
Recovery:
May induce nausea, low white and red blood cell count, and fatigue; closely monitored for liver function.
Targeted Therapy
What it does :
Blocks some of the molecules that support growth of the cancer cells and blood supply.
Treated for:
Advanced or unresectable HCC.
Common medications:
Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Regorafenib, Cabozantinib
Recovery:
Oral treatment; side effects are diarrhea, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome
Immunotherapy
What it does:
Triggers the body's immune system to identify and kill liver cancer cells.
Used for:
Advanced or unresectable liver cancer.
Drugs used:
Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab, Nivolumab, Durvalumab
Recovery:
Can cause immune-related side effects; managed with immunosuppressants as necessary
Management & Prevention
Liver Function Monitoring
•Regular blood tests and imaging to assess liver health and spot any early signs of recurrence.
Nutritional Support
•Customized diets created by a liver-specialist dietitian to support healing and manage any digestion problems after treatment.
Rehabilitation Support
•Guided gentle exercise and physiotherapy programs to rebuild strength, energy, and improve liver function after surgery or therapy.
•Regular Checkups
•Scheduled follow-ups with scans and liver tests every few months to track recovery and catch complications early.
Liver Cancer Types
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
•Most frequent liver cancer, HCC begins in hepatocytes, the major liver cells. It's most often related to chronic liver disease like hepatitis B or C and cirrhosis. Early detection guarantees effective treatment.
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
•This cancer develops in the bile ducts inside the liver. While less frequent, it's typically aggressive and commonly diagnosed late. Certain liver diseases and bile duct disease are risk factors.
Hepatoblastoma
•A type of liver cancer that occurs only in children below the age of three years. It begins in cells that are still immature in the liver and can be easily treated if early discovered and subjected to surgery and chemotherapy.
Angiosarcoma
•A very sinister and rare type of cancer that originates in the blood vessels of the liver. Most times related to exposure to some chemicals, it's always late when it is diagnosed and thus treatment is hard.
Liver Cancer Symptoms
- •Unexplained weight loss is one of the presenting symptoms of liver cancer, usually with loss of appetite and fatigue.
What’s Notable
Silent Progression: Liver cancer seldom becomes symptomatic until advanced stages, hence screening and early diagnosis are essential.
Global Burden: Liver cancer is the third leading cancer mortality globally, claiming over 800,000 lives yearly.
HCC Incidence: Nearly 75% of all liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).
When to Seek Help
- Chronic Fatigue :Long-standing fatigue that is not alleviated by rest may be an indication of liver malfunction and should be evaluated by a physician. - Loss of Appetite : Unexplained loss of appetite, especially if accompanied by other signs and symptoms, should cause a patient to visit a physician. - Dark Urine : Dark urine is one of the symptoms of liver disease affecting the breakdown of bile. - Itchy Skin: Itching that recurs without a rash may be caused by bile salt buildup as a result of liver disease. - Easy Bleeding or Bruising : Easy bruising or bleeding is caused by the inability of the liver to help with clotting.
Liver Cancer Causes & Risk Factors
Chronic Hepatitis B or C Infection
Sustained infection of the liver by Hepatitis B or C virus greatly increases the risk of liver cancer due to ongoing liver inflammation
Cirrhosis
Alcohol or fatty liver disease scarring of the liver increases the cancer risk
Excessive Drinking
Years of excessive drinking kills off liver cells and leads to cirrhosis and increases the risk of skin cancer
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Irrelevant fat storage in the liver is capable of causing cirrhosis and risk of cancer.
Aflatoxin Exposure
Ingestion of food that is contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxin produced by some molds, is a proven risk factor for liver cancer.
Liver Cancer Diagnosis
Initial Symptoms & Check-up
Step 1: Comprehensive Diagnosis Various imaging tests, blood tests such as AFP, and liver function tests are performed to establish the type, extent of the cancer and any underlying condition of the liver
Liver Cancer Treatment & Therapy
Chemotherapy
What it does:
Destroys fast-growing liver cancer cells using powerful drugs.
Treated for:
Not typically used; used only for widespread HCC or if other options don't work.
Recovery:
May induce nausea, low white and red blood cell count, and fatigue; closely monitored for liver function.
Targeted Therapy
What it does :
Blocks some of the molecules that support growth of the cancer cells and blood supply.
Treated for:
Advanced or unresectable HCC.
Common medications:
Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Regorafenib, Cabozantinib
Recovery:
Oral treatment; side effects are diarrhea, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome
Immunotherapy
What it does:
Triggers the body's immune system to identify and kill liver cancer cells.
Used for:
Advanced or unresectable liver cancer.
Drugs used:
Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab, Nivolumab, Durvalumab
Recovery:
Can cause immune-related side effects; managed with immunosuppressants as necessary
Management & Prevention
Liver Function Monitoring
•Regular blood tests and imaging to assess liver health and spot any early signs of recurrence.
Nutritional Support
•Customized diets created by a liver-specialist dietitian to support healing and manage any digestion problems after treatment.
Rehabilitation Support
•Guided gentle exercise and physiotherapy programs to rebuild strength, energy, and improve liver function after surgery or therapy.
•Regular Checkups
•Scheduled follow-ups with scans and liver tests every few months to track recovery and catch complications early.
Why Choose Everhope Liver Cancer?
At Everhope, our experts support your proactive care with advanced treatment — guiding you with knowledge, hope, and healing.
6th
most common cancer in India
900K
new cases globally every year
50K
new cases in India every year
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FAQs on Liver Cancer
No question is too small when it comes to your care
Major risk factors include long-term hepatitis B or C infection, cirrhosis (scarred liver), heavy alcohol use, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, and exposure to aflatoxins (toxins from mold in some foods)
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