What is Hepatocellular Carcinoma?

Hepatocellular carcinoma refers to the cancer of the liver. This type of cancer usually affects people with chronic liver ailments, such as liver cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis B and C infections.

Risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma

The following factors can increase your chances of developing hepatocellular carcinoma –

• Heavy alcohol consumption – Consuming more than two drinks in a day, over the years, can increase your risk of liver cancer

• Obesity – Obesity, which is characterized by extreme weight gain, can lead to NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), which again makes you prone to liver cancer

• Diabetes – The insulin levels in diabetics may cause damage to the liver, thus resulting in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Hereditary hemochromatosis – This disease causes your body to absorb excess iron from the food you eat. Too much iron stored in the liver may lead to life-threatening conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma.

Symptoms to look out for

A person suffering from this type of cancer may not be aware of his/her own condition since the symptoms of the disease are not evident in the early stage. However, you are likely to encounter the following signs when and as cancer progresses –

• Pain in the stomach, particularly in the upper right portion

• A lump in the upper portion of the abdomen

• Swelling or bloating

• Loss of appetite

• A persistent feeling of fullness

• Unintentional weight loss

• Fatigue and weakness

• Vomiting and nausea

• Discolouration of the skin and eyes

• Chalky, pale stools

• Dark urine

• High fever

Many of the symptoms stated above are similar to that of other health conditions. Therefore, it is advisable that you consult a doctor and undergo proper diagnosis.

Diagnosis and treatment

The first step of diagnosis involves reviewing the medical history of the patient. Your doctor will perform a clinical examination with the help of diagnostic tools to ascertain if you have liver cancer.

Usually, the following methods are used –

• Blood test

• Imaging test

• Liver biopsy

Once cancer is detected, your doctor will prepare a treatment plan, depending on the stage of cancer. The common treatment procedures are –

• Radiation therapy – High-intensity X-ray beams are used to kill the cancer cells

• Chemotherapy – Certain drugs are administered into the bloodstream intravenously or are taken orally

• Targeted therapy – Certain drugs are targeted towards specific cancer cells

• Immunotherapy – The doctor uses specific drugs to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells

• Surgery – The surgeon may perform partial hepatectomy to remove the portion of your liver that has been affected by cancer

• Liver transplant – The surgeon will replace your diseased liver with a healthy one from a donor

For some people, cancer treatments can yield positive results, while for others the disease may not be completely curable. In that case, hepatocellular carcinoma can recur. The best way to battle cancer is to prevent its occurrence by following a healthy lifestyle.