Liver Cancer

Liver cancer starts in the liver, which is responsible for making enzymes that digest food and remove harmful substances from the blood.

Factors that may increase the risk of developing liver cancer include:

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)
Heavy alcohol consumption for a long period of time
Hemochromatosis, a condition in which there is too much iron stored in the body
Cirrhosis, which is a serious liver disease that can arise from being infected with hepatitis B or C or from heavy alcohol use, or exposure to certain parasites or hemochromatosis.
Obesity
Diabetes
Diseases of the colon (such as ulcerative colitis)

Symptoms of liver cancer

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
Bloating or swelling in the upper abdomen
Dark urine
Stools that are pale or float in the toilet
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss

However, most of these signs and symptoms do not usually appear in the early stages, which is why we strongly recommend taking regular early detection tests which can diagnose cancer in its early, most curable stages.

Diagnosis of liver cancer

CT scan
MRI scan
ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) to examine and diagnose diseases of the liver, bile ducts, and pancreas
Image-guided biopsy through ultrasound or CT
Alpha fetoprotein blood test
Laparoscopic biopsy to obtain tissue samples in and around the liver for further study

Treatment of liver cancer at KHCC

The physician will present the case to the MDC panel who will determine the right treatment, wherein the tumor will be surgically removed. Other forms of treatment will be determined for patients who cannot undergo surgery. Novel techniques to attack the tumor include local delivery of chemotherapy through feeding vessels (chemoembolization) and local tumor ablation using radiofrequency probes that focus heat on the tumor.