Liver Cancer Treatment: Symptoms and Causes :

Cancer is one disease, epidemic rather, that affects hundreds of millions of people on a daily basis. The scary truth about this deadly disease is that the symptoms cannot be detected early on, and in most cases, the disease progresses up to a point when it’s already too late to be treated. Cancer is a disease that should be prevented rather than cured, and in the case of liver cancer, you should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms that could help in the early detection and possible cure of the chronic liver disease 

What is liver cancer? 

It is the abnormal multiplication of cells in the liver, an important organ that is located in the upper right portion of the stomach area, beneath the diaphragm. Although there are several types of cancer that can affect the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. 

It is more common for cancer to spread to the liver from other parts of the body as opposed to cancer starting from the liver.

Here are the symptoms of liver cancer that you need to watch out for:

It is one of those types of cancers wherein the signs and symptoms are hard to spot in the early stages. Detection is usually when the cancer has already advanced to the third or fourth stage, by which time it is usually too late. Liver cancer treatment requires the ultimate amounts of skill, knowledge and experience in order to beat this lethal and fast-spreading disease. Symptoms that you should keep an eye out for include –

·       Weight loss without diet or exercise

·       Appetite loss

·       Upper stomach pain

·       Vomiting/nausea

·       Fatigue and feeling weak in general

·       Skin and whites of the eyes turning yellow (similar to jaundice)

·       Stools turning white

      Causes and risk factors of liver cancer

It occurs when the liver cells start to change or mutate. DNA in the cells is what provides specific instructions for the initiation of any chemical process in the body. When the DNA mutates, these chemical reactions and processes become abnormal. The affected cells grow out of control and will eventually form a tumor which is a mass of cancerous cells and this continues to grow and spread to other areas of the body.

Factors that increase the risk of liver cancer are as follows:

       HBV or HCV infection – Hepatitis B or C infections can increase your risk of developing liver cancer.

       Genes - Hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease can increase your risk of liver cancer.

        Diabetes – Those who suffer from irregular blood sugar levels are at greater risk of developing diabetes.

       Aflatoxin exposure - Aflatoxins are a kind of poison produced by molds that grow on poorly stored crops like nuts and grains. Aflatoxins can contaminate these crops, which can then end up in the food products made from these crops.

        Excessive alcohol consumption – Consuming excess amounts of alcohol over a number of years can have irreversible and deadly effects on the liver and ultimately triple your chances of developing liver cancer.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should get yourself checked for the onset of liver cancer.

Aster Hospitals is undoubtedly one of the best liver care hospitals in UAE specializing in the treatment and cure of the disease. Our team of experienced and highly-skilled doctors, and nurse staff will make sure that you are in good hands and on the road to a full and fast recovery.