What Causes Liver Cancer | Liver Cancer: Definition Symptoms, Treatment | Liver Cancer Kaise Hota Hai

Introduction

The liver, a sizable organ that filters blood and serves a number of essential tasks in the body, is where liver cancer typically develops. Jaundice, puffiness, loss of appetite, weight loss, and abdominal pain are just a few of the signs of liver cancer. If you are at risk of getting liver cancer, it is crucial to have frequent check-ups and tests because these signs could not show up until the cancer is advanced.

The following are a few risk factors for liver cancer:

• Long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
• Cirrhosis, or liver scarring brought on by alcoholism, fatty liver disease, or other factors
• Being exposed to aflatoxins, a poison that certain fungi can create and contaminate food.
• Smoking cigarettes, diabetes, and obesity
• Liver cancer in the family

In order to detect liver cancer, your doctor might suggest a few tests and treatments if you have any of these risk factors or symptoms. These may consist of:

Liver Cancer Causes

The following are some of the causes and risk factors for liver cancer:

• Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C viruses, which can cause inflammation and scarring of the liver.
• Cirrhosis, a disorder in which good liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Alcoholism, persistent hepatitis infections, and other conditions can all lead to cirrhosis.
• Excessive alcohol consumption, which can harm the liver and raise the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
• Chemical or toxin exposure, such as herbicides, vinyl chloride, arsenic, or aflatoxins (a type of mould that can contaminate various foods).
• Smoking, particularly when accompanied with significant alcohol use or chronic hepatitis infections.

Not everyone with these risk factors develops liver cancer, and some people develop liver cancer while having no recognised risk factors. If you notice any of the following signs or symptoms, please visit your doctor: weight loss, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), or white stools.

Physical examination and medical history

Your doctor will evaluate your body and inquire about your medical background by asking you things like:

• Your symptoms and when they first appeared - Your present and past health issues
• Liver cancer or other malignancies running in your family
• Your exposure to hepatitis viruses or other illnesses - Your use of prescription drugs or dietary supplements
• Your lifestyle choices, including alcohol consumption, smoking, nutrition, and activity

Additionally, your doctor will examine your abdomen for indications of liver enlargement, discomfort, or fluid buildup. They might also look for symptoms of jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eye whites brought on by high amounts of bilirubin, a waste product that the liver normally filters.

Blood testing 

To assess your liver function and search for indicators of liver cancer, your doctor could request various blood tests. Blood tests that may be performed include the following:

• Liver function tests (LFTs), which assess the levels of specific proteins and enzymes to determine how efficiently your liver is operating. LFTs that are abnormal may indicate liver illness or injury.
• The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumour marker test, which assesses the amount of AFP, a protein that, although it is typically produced by the foetus during pregnancy, some liver cancer cells can also produce. A high amount of AFP in the blood could be a sign of cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver cancer.
• Additional tumour markers that may also be raised in some cases of liver cancer or other malignancies, include carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125).

Imaging testing

Additionally, your doctor might perform imaging tests to take photographs of the organs in your abdomen, including the liver. These examinations can assist in locating tumours, measuring their size and location, and determining whether they have metastasized to other tissues or organs. Imaging procedures that might be employed include the following:

• Ultrasound, which makes images of your interior organs using sound waves. Your liver's form and texture can be seen by ultrasound, which can also find any tumours or fluid collections.
• A CT scan, which produces comprehensive cross-sectional images of your body using x-rays and a computer. The size and location of tumours in your liver and other organs can be determined via a CT scan. After injecting a contrast dye into your vein, a specialised type of CT scan called a triple-phase CT can gather images at three separate times to acquire a better picture of any abnormal liver tissue.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which produces precise images of your body using a magnet, radio waves, and a computer. Compared to a CT scan, an MRI can reveal more information and can also reveal blood arteries in and around your liver. After injecting a contrast dye into your vein, a specialised form of MRI called magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) can take images at three distinct intervals to acquire a better picture of any aberrant liver tissue.
• A bone scan, which involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material into your vein, which then travels to your bones. Any areas of abnormal bone activity that could be signs of cancer progression can be seen using a specialised camera that can detect radiation.

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

The following are some of the signs of liver cancer:

• Losing weight without making an effort
• Appetite loss
• Upper abdominal discomfort
• Vomiting and nausea
• General tiredness and weakness
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Jaundice is a yellow colouring of your skin and the whites of your eyes.
• Stools that are white and chalky

Some liver tumours can also cause hormonal changes, which can cause symptoms like:

• Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels) can induce nausea, disorientation, diarrhoea, weakness, or muscle difficulties.
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause exhaustion or fainting.
• In men, breast growth (gynecomastia) and/or testicular atrophy
• High red blood cell counts (erythrocytosis) can cause a person to seem red and flushed.
• High levels of cholesterol

If you have any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis and treatment. Chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection, cirrhosis, excessive alcohol intake, and other conditions can all lead to liver cancer.

what is Liver Function test

What is Liver Function Test

Liver function tests are commonly used to determine how effectively the liver is operating. They assess the levels of specific enzymes and proteins in your blood that are linked to liver function1. Among these tests are the following:

• Albumin: a protein produced by the liver that aids in the maintenance of fluid balance in the body. Low albumin levels may suggest liver injury or disease.
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)**: a liver enzyme that aids in the conversion of proteins into energy for the liver cells. ALT is released into the bloodstream when the liver is injured, and levels rise2. 
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): an enzyme that aids in the metabolization of amino acids. AST, like ALT, is generally present in low amounts in the blood. An increase in AST values may indicate liver or muscle injury.
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): an enzyme found in the liver and bone that aids in protein breakdown. ALP levels that are higher than usual may suggest liver damage or disease, such as a blocked bile duct, or certain bone diseases.2. 
• Bilirubin: a chemical created after normal red blood cell disintegration. Bilirubin is excreted in the faeces after passing through the liver. Elevated bilirubin levels (jaundice) may suggest liver damage or disease, or some types of anemia.
• Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT): a blood enzyme that aids in the transport of amino acids across cell membranes. Increased levels may indicate liver or bile duct damage. 
• L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD): an enzyme found in the liver and other tissues that aids in the conversion of glucose into energy. increased levels may suggest liver disease, but they can also be increased in a variety of other conditions.
• Prothrombin time (PT): the amount of time it takes for your blood to clot. Increased PT may indicate liver injury, although it can also be caused by blood-thinning medications such as warfarin.

Liver function tests can be used to screen for liver infections, such as hepatitis, to monitor the progression or treatment of a disease, such as viral or alcoholic hepatitis, to measure the severity of a disease, particularly scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), to monitor potential medication side effects, or to diagnose other conditions that affect the liver.

Treatments of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a disease caused by the growth of tumours in the liver cells. Jaundice, weight loss, stomach pain, and vomiting are some of the symptoms. The treatment of liver cancer is determined by various factors, including the stage and kind of cancer, the location and size of the tumour, the spread of the disease, and the patient's overall health and liver function.

The following are the primary treatments for liver cancer:

• Surgery entails removing a portion or the entire liver containing the malignancy. If the entire liver is removed, a donor liver transplant is required to replace it with a healthy one. Although surgery is the preferred treatment for liver cancer, it is not appropriate for everyone. Some people may have impaired liver function as a result of cirrhosis or other disorders, or the cancer may be too large or disseminated to be totally removed. Surgery can result in complications such as bleeding, infection, blood clots, pneumonia, and anaesthesia difficulties.
• Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is frequently administered into the tumors' blood vessels to stop it from developing. TACE stands for chemoembolization. Chemotherapy can aid in tumour shrinkage or management and improvement of symptoms. It is frequently used when surgery is either impossible or insufficient to remove the cancer. Chemotherapy can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss, exhaustion, and low blood cell counts.
• Thermal ablation is the use of heat to eliminate cancer cells. This can be accomplished with either an electric current (radiofrequency ablation, or RFA) or microwaves (microwave ablation, or MWA). Thermal ablation can be used to treat tiny tumours that are too small for surgery. It can cause discomfort, haemorrhage, infection, and harm to adjacent organs, among other things.
• Targeted therapy is employing medications that target certain characteristics of cancer cells that cause them to grow and spread. Targeted therapy for liver cancer can help prevent the tumour from developing or spreading to other parts of the body. It is frequently used when surgery is either impossible or insufficient to remove the cancer. Side effects of targeted therapy include diarrhoea, skin rash, elevated blood pressure, and liver problems.
• Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells and decrease tumours. Radiotherapy for liver cancer is occasionally used to inhibit tumour growth by infusing radioactive beads into the liver's blood supply. SIRT stands for selective internal radiation treatment. Radiotherapy can be used to treat tumours that do not respond to surgery or other treatments. It has the potential to cause exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, and liver damage.

Each person with liver cancer receives a unique treatment plan based on their unique situation and preferences. The professional care team will discuss the benefits and dangers of each treatment choice and collaborate with the patient to develop the most personalised treatment plan for them.

Conclusion

Liver cancer is a deadly disease that affects the liver, a crucial organ that performs numerous tasks in the body. Primary liver cancer begins in the liver cells, whereas secondary liver cancer spreads from another part of the body to the liver. Weight loss, loss of appetite, stomach pain, jaundice, and ascites are all indications of liver cancer.

Although the exact cause of liver cancer is unknown, some risk factors include chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection, cirrhosis, excessive alcohol consumption, and exposure to certain toxins. Blood testing, imaging tests, and biopsy can all be used to diagnose liver cancer. Treatment options are determined by the stage of the cancer, the patient's liver function, and overall health.

Some treatments include surgery to remove the tumour or the entire liver, transplant to replace the diseased liver with a healthy one from a donor, localised treatments to destroy cancer cells with heat, cold, or alcohol injection, radiation therapy to kill cancer cells with high-energy beams, and chemotherapy to stop cancer cell growth. Liver cancer is a difficult disease that necessitates multimodal treatment and continuous monitoring. Reducing alcohol use, maintaining a healthy weight, being vaccinated against hepatitis B, and avoiding hepatitis C infection are all prevention options.