LiVER
CANCER
By Aanya Rai
Table of Contents
01 02 03 04
Introuction TYPES OF LIVER Symptoms Diagnosis
CANCER
05 06 07 08
Personal
Cancer Stages Treatment Prevention
Reflection
INTRODUCTION
We have all heard about cancer and
how it affects the people around us.
Liver cancer is a disease where the
cancer forms in the tissues of the liver It
is one of the deadliest and the fastest
growing cancer types in the United
States There are two types of liver
cancer : primary and secondary liver
cancer.
PRIMARY VS SECONDARY
LIVER CANCER
A CANCER THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE
01 LIVER IS CALLED PRIMARY LIVER CANCER.
THERE ARE 4 TYPES OF PRIMARY LIVER
CANCER:
HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA (MOST
COMMON)
INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA
ANGIOSARCOMA
HEPATOBLASTOMA
PRIMARY VS SECONDARY
LIVER CANCER
In this type of cancer, the disease did not start
02 from the liver but has spread from somewhere
else in the body. These tumors are named based
on where the started from. There are also 4 types
of secondary liver cancer:
Benign liver tumors
Hemangioma
Hepatic adenoma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
SYMPTOMS PEOPLE AT RISK
More men than women are affected
People don’t experience symptoms in People with races that are Asian and Hispanic
the early stages of primary liver are more likely to develop primary liver cancer
cancer. Some of the symptoms they than white and black people
Inherited metabolic diseases: Genetic
may experience in the later stages are:
conditions that result in metabolism problems
Alcohol addiction
Loss of appetite
Obesity - risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
Loss of weight Type 2 diabetes
Fatigue Chronic Infection of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
Dark coloured urine Anabolic steroid use: Abused by athletes to
Abdominal swelling increase muscle - Can increase risk with long
A lump below your rib cage term use
Cirrhosis: A progressive and irreversible
condition
- Causes scar tissue to form in your live
- Increases chances of developing liver
cancer
DIAGNOSIS
BLOOD TESTS
Blood tests are done to identify substances in our blood which could affect
cancer. Some types of blood tests that can be done to diagnose liver cancer are:
- Liver Functions Test - Bilirubin Test
- Total Proteins Test - Prothrombin Time Test
- LDH TEST
LIVER FUNCTIONS TEST
Liver functions test is done to check the level of liver enzymes,
proteins, and other substances that show whether your liver is healthy
or damaged.
ULTRASOUND
Ultrasounds can show the tumor in your liver that looks different/stands out
from the background liver tissue. It is:
- Quick and painless
- does not use radiation
- widely available
Preparation: No special preparation needed
- May be asked to not eat for up to 8 hours before the test
DIAGNOSIS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)
This test is used to produce clear images of a body. This is done by the use of
large magnet, radio waves and a computer.
This is helpful at looking at the blood vessels inside and around the liver to
check whether any blockages has occurred and to see whether the cancer
has spread to any other parts of the body
ANGIOGRAPHY
A x-ray test that looks for blood vessels inside the body. This test helps
doctors decide if the cancer can be removed and helps them plan the
operation. But can be uncomfortable since a small catheter (small flexible
hollow tube) must be put in your artery which leads to the liver to inject the
dye. A local anesthesia is injected to numb the area beforehand,
BIOPSY
Biopsy is the process of removing a sample tissue to check whether a person
has cancer or not.
Types of biopsies: Needle Biopsy, Surgical Biopsy, Laparoscopic Biopsy
Biopsy is not always needed.
STAGE 01 STAGE 03
- More than one or one tumor that measures more than 5 cm
- Single tumor - may have spread to another organ, lymph nodes or large blood vess
- Measures less than 2 cm
STAGE 02 STAGE 04
- Single tumor Cancer has spread to other
- Measures up to or less than 5 cm different places in the body
- May have already spread to blood vessels
TREATMENT
Treatment depends on which stage the cancer is in and the best
outlook relating to the overall health of the patient.
PARTIAL PARTIAL
HEPATECTOMY HEPATECTOMY
. Partial Hepatectomy is only available for Patients with cirrhosis may not be
people with a healthy liver function and applicable since attempting an operation
whose cancer has not spread to other parts may not leave enough liver tissue behind
of the body. CT and MRI scans are done to which is important for the liver to function
see whether the surgery will be beneficial properly. Side effects and risks:
because in some cases, even after the Bleeding
surgery, the surgeons may not be able to Blood clots
remove the cancer completely. Pneumonia
New liver cancer
TREATMENT
LIVER TRANSPLANT LIVER TRANSPLANT
. Partial Hepatectomy is only available for Patients with cirrhosis may not be
people with a healthy liver function and applicable since attempting an operation
whose cancer has not spread to other parts may not leave enough liver tissue behind
of the body. CT and MRI scans are done to which is important for the liver to function
see whether the surgery will be beneficial properly. Side effects and risks:
because in some cases, even after the Bleeding
surgery, the surgeons may not be able to Blood clots
remove the cancer completely. Pneumonia
New liver cancer
TREATMENT
TARGETED DRUG
RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
Targeted drug therapy focuses on certain This treatment works well for people in
harmful parts of the cancer cells that needs advanced stages of the cancer. Some of these
to be removed by administrating drugs drugs are: Kinase inhibitors, Regorafenib
which will only kill those certain cells. (Stivarga) and cabozantinib (Cabometyx),
angiogenesis inhibitors etc. Possible risks and
Since this treatment only works for patients side effects are:
with cancer cells that have mutations, the Headaches
patient will have to get tested in a laboratory Low white blood cells count
to see whether this therapy will work for
Increased risk of infection
you.
Mouth sores
Diarrhea
TREATMENT
EMBOLIZATION RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS
Embolization therapy cuts off the It takes from 4-6 weeks to fully recover from
blood supply to the tumor of the liver embolization and there is a chance that the
liver may function worse than it did before.
by injecting substances in the artery of
the liver.
Possible risks and side effects are:
It is one of the options available for
Infection in the liver
patients with tumors that is not Nausea
possible to be removed by surgery. Not Fever
recommended for people who Blood clots
diseases like cirrhosis and hepaptitis.
PREVENTION ‘’An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure” - Benjamin Franklin
GET TESTED FOR HEPATITIS B AND C
DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION AND AVOID ALCOHOL IF
THE PATIENT HAS CIRRHOS AND HEPAPTIS
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
GET VACCINATED AGAINST HEPATITIS B
LIMIT TOBACCO USE
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Learning about liver cancer was interesting and a little bit scary at the same time.
Cancer is one of the things in my life that I have heard a lot of non facts about,
but for some reason, people seem to believe them. Researching about liver
cancer made me realize about my lifestyle and choices I should make in the
future to avoid getting liver cancer. I think exercising and eating healthy
definitely contributes in reducing the risk of liver cancer. After evaluating the
long-term goals and beliefs I have in my life for myself, I believe that if I ever
drink alcohol, it will be in moderation. And since most of the time liver cancer
gets diagnosed in the advanced stages, getting tested regularly is very important. I
think, this cancer will start to be a concern in the start of my 30's and having
south asian genes will change how big of a concern liver cancer is to me.
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Thank you
