Liver cancers can be defined as tumors arising in the liver's own parenchyma tissue, but it should be noted that most of the cancers observed in the liver are caused by the spread of cancers located in another region.

 

Primary liver cancers (direct tumors of the liver itself)
While the disease is an important public health problem especially in regions where hepatitis B infection is common, it is a less common type of cancer in developed countries where vaccination is effective.

 

It is more common in men than in women. Hepatocellular carcinoma originating from the hepatocyte, the functional cell of the liver, accounts for approximately 90% of liver cancers.

 

The rest are tumors called cholangiocarcinoma, which mostly originate from the biliary tract within the liver. They are usually detected at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.

 

Liver Cancer Symptoms

 

Many patients with liver cancer do not have any early symptoms. For this reason, especially in high-risk patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, follow-up is very important for early diagnosis, even if there are no complaints.

Liver cancers usually cause bloating in the abdomen, yellowing of the skin, itching, pain starting from the right upper part of the abdomen and hitting the back, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite for weeks, feeling of fullness and bloating after meals despite eating very little, fever, sweating at night, sudden worsening in general health, urinary incontinence. It is manifested by signs of jaundice such as darkening in color and pale stools.

Many of these listed symptoms are not hallmarks for liver cancer because they can all be caused by many other conditions.

 

Liver Cancer Treatment

 

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and different treatment options are available. The most beneficial treatment method for patients is surgical treatment.

 

Removal of a part of the liver (hepatectomy) or liver transplant to include the tumors are the treatment options. It can be applied within safe limits with experienced surgeons. A point to be considered in liver surgery is that the remaining liver is of sufficient functional capacity and size for the patient.

 

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, methods in which the tumor is burned (ablation therapy) or occlusion of the vessels feeding the tumor with chemotherapy spheres or intravenous chemotherapy can be applied in tumors for which surgery is not suitable or in patients who are thought to be unable to remove these major surgeries.