Liver cancer Research Paper

Just like any other organ in the body, the liver is often affected by many disease conditions, with liver cancer or hepatic cancer being one of them. Primary cancer of the Liver refers to continuous proliferation of liver hepatocytes that starts primarily from in the liver hepatocytes (Kudo et al, 2014). This is opposed to the liver metastasis, a more common type of cancer that involves hepatocellular cells but starts elsewhere in the body and metastasizes to the liver (Kudo et al, 2014). Based on the statistics, an estimation of 47,710 adults in the US that includes 19,610 men and 11,510 women were diagnosed with primary cancer of the liver (Rahib et al, 2014). Based on this stats, men are 3 times more likely to get liver cancer than women.

The chronic abuse of alcohol is also among the leading causes of primary cancer of the liver. Alcohol is known to cause liver cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver cells are severely damaged and their place replaced with a scar tissue (Rehm, & Shield, 2014). Destruction of the liver cells is attributed to the subsequent cancer that develops following prolonged consumption of alcohol. It is evident that most of individuals who end up with liver cancer has a history of alcohol abuse and cirrhosis. Toxins are also known to increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The abuse of cannabis is also linked to the development of liver cancer. Although directly linked, some of the cannabis abusers have a suppressed immune system that may pave way for many diseases such as hepatitis that affect the liver.

Aflatoxins from molds that inhabit poorly stored cereals and later consumed in food also cause damage to the liver and increases chances of liver cancer. Some diseases of the liver and non-liver related diseases are also known to increase the risk of liver cancer. Fatty liver disease not caused by chronic consumption of alcohol is one the liver diseases known to increase the risk of liver cancer (Stewart, & Wild, 2017). Other than X-ray, other medications that are hepatotoxic may increase the risk of developing liver cancer. Among them are the anti-anxiety drugs such as diazepam and other over the counter drugs. Staging of Liver Cancer Appropriate treatment for any form of cancer requires that the cancer be first staged. The stage of the cancer dictates the type of treatment that may be helpful to the patient.

Primary cancer of the liver, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma is categorized mainly into four stages; stage I-IV. The subgroup IB also has groupings T1a whereby there is a single tumor of about 2cm in size that does not affect blood vessels and also N0 and M0 that has not spread to lymph nodes and other places respectively (Chan et al, 2013). Stage II Stage II cancer of the liver represents a cancer that is more advanced than stage I. This type of hepatocellular carcinoma is characterized with either presence of several small tumors mainly in the liver hepatocytes or a single tumor that has made its way into the blood vessels. The single tumor may be more than 2cm in size and if multiple tumor, they are usually less than 5 cm in diameter.

Just like stage I, stage II is sub classified into IIA and IIB respectively. Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma The treatment of any type of cancer depends largely on the extend of its spread hence the need for cancer staging. For hepatocellular carcinoma, the health status of the liver also needs to be determined. This is because most forms of hepatocellular carcinoma occur in combination with liver cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver tissue is scarred into a dead tissue (Kudo, 2015). Some of the interventions used in the treatment of this type of cancer include; Surgery This is mainly applicable for the cancer that has not yet spread. Surgery is done to remove a certain part of the liver that is affected with the tumor.

Different combinations of drugs are used accompanied with patient monitoring. Patient are often made to go through cycles of treatment until the cancer cells are completely destroyed. This form of treatment is not local unlike surgery and may be used to clear metastases from the bod. Therefore, advanced stages of liver cancer are often managed by the help of drugs. Radiation Therapy Radiations composed of high energy rays are often used to kill cancerous cells. The forms of treatment employed surgical or use of chemotherapeutic agents depends on the stage of the liver. If early diagnosed, survival rates can be improved. References Chan, A. C. , Fan, S. M. Evaluation of the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) staging system for patients undergoing curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for the development of a refined staging system.