12. PTC: Cancer Types: Liver

12. PTC: Cancer Types: Liver

What is liver cancer?

2020 09 11 201759

Liver cancer is the out-of-control growth of liver cells which is called primary liver cancer. It can also be cancer that spreads from other parts of the body into the liver. Cancer that spreads to the liver from other places in the body is more common than cancer that begins in the liver cells. Liver cancer can affect your body’s ability to filter blood that comes in from the digestive tract before it passes to the rest of your body. It can also affect your body’s ability to detoxify chemicals and drugs. Because the liver is made of different types of cells, there is potential for different kinds of tumors to grow that could be either benign which is not-cancerous, or cancerous. The most common type of liver cancer is Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which occurs often in people with chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B or hepatitis C infections. HCC can start as a single tumor that starts to get bigger and only spreads to other parts of the liver in the late stages of the disease. To learn more about the rarer kinds of liver cancer, look at this website (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/liver-cancer/about/what-is-liver-cancer.html).

2020 09 11 202301

How does liver cancer present?

What symptoms should patients be on the lookout for?

m7zx6d33crjmyoysyfaw

During the early development of liver cancer most affected individuals have almost no symptoms. When the liver gets swollen, irritated, or inflamed from cancer, people experience some of the following symptoms:

  • loss of appetite,
  • upper belly pain,
  • nausea and vomiting,
  • general weakness and fatigue,
  • weight loss,
  • feeling very full after a small meal,
  • constipation,
  • itching, and/or
  • pain in the abdomen or right side of the body.
    These symptoms might be more obvious as liver cancer gets worse.

Are there any visual signs?

Visual signs may be easier to catch over the subtle symptoms. Some visual signs may include:
  • yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • white and chalky stools
  • swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen
  • breast enlargement and/or shrinkage of testicles in men
  • looking red or flushed
  • dark-colored urine
    If these visual signs are noticed one should contact their primary physician for a follow-up as soon as possible.
liver

 

journey never ending

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

InteractiveLearnngTool

The following interactive learning tool is intended to assess understanding and reinforce learning.  While your results are anonymous, the combined scoring is collected as a means of identifying weaknesses in content presentation for future updates to support learning improvement.  Please enjoy this tool as a
fun and learning experience!

Sponsors & Supporters


  • Gift of Life Donor Program
    Platinum
  • CareDx
    Platinum
  • Atara Bio
    Bronze
  • GuideStar 2020 Platinum
  • UNOS
    Sponsor
  • AAKP
    Bronze
  • Clinical Consulting Associates
    Bronze
  • GLI
    Supporter
  • Notion design sponsor
    Supporter
  • solicitation
    various
    Follow TRIO on  
    17560 Buckingham Garden Drive Lithia, FL 33547 1-813-800- TRIO (8746) • info@trioweb.org
    EIN# 251569468

    DISCLAIMER: The content of this TRIO post-transplant cancer Web site is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by transplant recipients and their supporters. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with your transplant team or a physician skilled in cancer and your organ type if you suspect you are ill.