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Hepatocellular carcinoma is also called primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatoma, and is abbreviated as HCC. What should we know about this type of cancer? We explain the symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma, how you can prevent liver disease, what treatment looks like and what the prognosis is.
Hepatocellular carcinoma – concept
Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for about 80-90% of malignant liver tumors and is a very dangerous disease. Most often it is a consequence of viral hepatitis. The high incidence and mortality rates are due to the fact that this type of cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, you need to be particularly vigilant for various, even minor symptoms and remember about appropriate prophylaxis and habits that will be helpful in taking care of the liver’s health.
All liver ailments are a source of many worries and concerns for the patient, because they concern a very important organ in the body. The liver is the largest parenchymal organ in the body. It is located under the right costal arch and fulfills an important task in everyday human functioning. The task of this body is controlling the metabolic efficiency of the body through the synthesis, breakdown, transformation and detoxification of various substances.
All diseases of the liver have a negative impact on the functional capacity of the liver, impair its efficiency, and this has serious consequences for the well-being and health of humans. Then the physical and biochemical fitness of the organism is disturbed. Liver diseases can be broadly divided into inflammatory, degenerative, cancerous and post-traumatic diseases. In this study we explain what hepatocellular carcinoma is, what are its risks and what is the treatment of this type of cancer.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma – origin and risk factors
Cancer and other liver diseases occur mainly in people aged 50 and over.
It is also worth knowing that hepatocellular carcinoma occurs 2-3 times more often in men than in women.
There are also a number of factors that carry a risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.
These risk factors include:
- cirrhosis;
- chronic hepatitis B;
- chronic hepatitis C;
- long-term intake of male sex hormones (anabolic steroids). These agents are used to increase strength and muscle mass, however, they can be dangerous to your health, especially in excess;
- exposure to contact with vinyl chloride. It is a chemical that is contained in some plastics.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma – symptoms
The clinical symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma are uncharacteristic. This is why this disease is often detected at an advanced stage. The initial symptoms of the disease may resemble chronic inflammation as well as toxic changes associated with cirrhosis of the liver. Further symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma are enlarged liver size, uneven organ surface and symptoms of impaired liver function, which is especially characteristic of progressive wasting.
We know that cirrhosis is among the risk factors for developing hepatocellular carcinoma, so it is worth paying special attention to the key symptoms of this disease.
Belong to them:
- weight loss,
- abdominal swelling
- somnolence,
- weakness and fatigue
- yellowing of the skin and eyes – jaundice,
- gastrointestinal bleeding (varicose veins),
- loss of appetite.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma – prophylaxis
Slowing the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma is possible and it is worth learning more about it as liver damage is often irreversible. However, you can reduce further damage to the body by taking various precautions and implementing important habits in your daily life.
A particularly important step is alcohol abstinence. Stimulants break down in the body into various chemical compounds that can be particularly toxic to the liver and lead to its further destruction. It is proven that people suffering from liver diseases, for example cirrhosis of the liver, can prolong their lives by taking care of alcohol abstinence.
It is also important to remember about healthy eating habits. It is necessary to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables and cook food as the freezing process does not kill viruses. When it comes to diet, it is important to limit salt, as the sodium contained in it is often a cause of fluid retention, and this is a disadvantage for people concerned about the health of their liver. In addition, it is important to take care of the advantage of vegetables, fruit and whole grain cereal products in the diet. They contain valuable nutrients, including vitamins A, C and E – their deficiency is not recommended.
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It is also advisable to be especially careful when on holiday in developing countries. You should use bottled water or tap water (which should be boiled for ten minutes) for cooking, drinking and even brushing your teeth.
In addition, the doctor may recommend supplementation with vitamins K, A and D, if he notices that the patient’s body does not absorb them in the right amount. At the same time, it should be remembered that self-treatment attempts are not recommended, therefore it is not appropriate to take vitamin preparations without consulting a doctor.
Chronic hepatitis B is also among the risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. There is a vaccine for this disease, which can also be used as part of prophylaxis. A series of three injections will protect against hepatitis B for about 10 years.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma – treatment
There are several treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma and the appropriate choice depends on the function of the liver and the stage of the disease. There are both surgical and pharmacological methods to choose from. Patients who will be treated surgically may undergo liver resection or liver transplantation.
Certainly, you must meet various conditions that qualify for the appropriate method of treatment. In the event of a liver resection, the following requirements must be met:
- bilirubin within the normal range,
- thrombocytes over 100 / mm³,
- no portal hypertension.
Another surgical treatment, liver transplantation, is an important step in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially when the patient is also struggling with cirrhosis. Transplantation helps in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and also treats cirrhosis of the liver. This method works best for people with a lump no larger than 5 cm.
In turn, in the case of pharmacological methods, attention should be paid to the drug sorafenib. It is an anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic drug.
There are also treatments that are appreciated in medicine, but are not very effective in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. It is classic chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
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