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Liver Cancer Research Paper

Decent Essays

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is an abnormal growth of cells (tumor) in the liver that is cancerous (malignant). The liver is located on the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the ribs. It is the largest organ in the body. The liver:
• Breaks down and stores nutrients, such as sugar and iron.
• Makes the parts of your blood that help your blood clot and prevent excessive bleeding.
• Cleans (filters) alcohol, drugs and harmful substances out of the blood.
• Helps absorb fats and other nutrients.

CAUSES
The exact cause of this condition is not known.

RISK FACTORS
This condition is more likely to develop in:
• Males.
• Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
• People with scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). Cirrhosis may …show more content…

• Smoking.
• People with certain liver diseases, such as Wilson disease.
• People with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
• People with diabetes.
• People who are overweight.
• People who are exposed to aflatoxins. These are substances made be certain types of mold that grow on food products, such as corn and peanuts.
• People who are exposed to Vinyl chloride. This chemical is used to make certain plastics.
• People who use anabolic steroids. This is a hormone that is used to increase muscle mass.
• People who drink water that has been contaminated with arsenic.
• People who have a disease called schistosomiasis.

SYMPTOMS
This condition often causes few or no symptoms in the beginning. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
• Weight loss without dieting.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Feeling itchy.
• A hard lump or mass under your ribs.
• Abnormal bruising or bleeding.
• Feeling very weak and tired.
• Pain on the right side of your abdomen, shoulder blade, or back.
• Feeling full after eating a small amount.
• Abdominal bloating.
• Fever.
• Skin or eyes that look yellow in color (jaundice).
• Dark-colored …show more content…

DIAGNOSIS
This condition is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. You may also have tests, including:
• Blood tests.
• Imaging tests, such as a:
○ CT scan.
○ MRI.
○ Ultrasound.
○ Angiogram. This is a type of x-ray that uses dye.
○ Bone scan.
• Laparoscopy. This is when your health care provider uses a small, lighted camera (laparoscope) to look at your liver and other organs.
• Examination of a tissue sample (biopsy) from your liver.
If liver cancer is confirmed, it will be staged to determine its severity and extent. Staging is an assessment of:
• The size of the tumor.
• If the cancer has spread.
• Where the cancer has spread.

TREATMENT
Treatment for liver cancer depends on the type and stage of the cancer, how well your liver is working, and your overall health. Treatment may include one or more of the following:
• Surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Sometimes the whole liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver (liver transplant).
• Chemotherapy. This uses medicines to kill the cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy. This treatment targets specific parts of cancer cells and the area around them to block the growth and spread of the

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