Liver Cancer Facts that You Need to Know!

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Liver cancer can be potentially life-threatening, particularly if the disease is diagnosed at later stages. Although it is rare in the U.S and UK, but in fact the cases of this disease are increasing for every year in these countries! What else the liver cancer facts that you need to know?

You might also like to know more about treatment options for liver cancer, before continuing!

Not all kinds of cancer that affect the liver are considered primary liver cancer (cancer in the liver that begins to grow from the cells in the liver). There is also a condition what we call as ‘secondary type’ – it is cancer cells that doesn’t come from the own cells of the liver, but they begin from other parts of the body and then spread to the liver.

In general, cancer of the liver will not generate any noticeable symptoms (initial signs) until it gets worse into the advanced stages. If the symptoms do occur, they are usually also very vague. This is one of reasons of why the disease is often diagnosed /detected at later stages.

What is the prognosis for liver cancer - Is this disease curable?

Can liver cancer be cured? What are factors that affect the prognosis of patient? These are some of frequently asked questions when we are discussing about this disease.

Overall treating liver cancer is difficult, including when the disease is diagnosed at early stage. But in general, early stage of cancer is much easier to treat and has better prognosis than when it is diagnosed at later stages.

In other words, early stage of this disease is the most treatable stage. But although the stage is the most significantly factor, there are also other factors that can affect the prognosis of patient. These may include the overall health of patient, type of cancer, and further factors that can affect the choice of the treatment options.

Furthermore, you should completely understand that each case is unique. And there is no detailed enough of statistic that can tell you about what will happen. Read more about the survival rates, prognosis, and stages of liver cancer in here!

Is liver cancer hereditary?

There is no clearly answer to answer this issue. But many experts believe that having certain liver diseases can increase the risk of developing abnormal cells in the liver.

An American research found that individuals with a first degree family history of the disease (particularly for those who have parent, sister, or brother with liver cancer) have higher risk of developing the same condition (the risk is 4 times higher than usual).

Furthermore, liver cancer is also more likely to occur in people with cirrhosis (scarring in the liver) and other inherited liver diseases (such as Wilson's disease and hemochromatosis). Read more causes of liver cancer in here!

Is this cancer more common in men than in women?

Many studies found that liver cancer is more likely to occur in men than in women – with elderly (over 65 years of age) is at the highest risk. In fact, in many countries where the disease is more common – most of the cases are in men.

Therefore, many experts agree to put gender into one of risk factors of liver cancer. Risk factors mean factors /conditions that increase your risk of developing the disease.

What are the complications of liver cancer?

Being diagnosed with this disease (particularly at later stages when the disease is almost incurable), can be so distressing. Therefore, it is also important for patients to get help from psychiatrist to keep them motivated.

In many cases, patients with cancer are more likely to experience the classic phases of the grieving process which can be outlined below:

1. They may initially denial and disbelieve to the fact that they are diagnosed with cancer.
2. Anger! Then they may lash out at medical staff, their family, or their friends.
3. Bargaining! They (particularly for those with terminal conditions) will try to ‘bargain’ with their cancer team, asking about any sort of treatment that can promote better prognosis and prolong their life!
4. They are also at higher risk of developing depression, which then will cause loss of interest in their life. They may also feel that their condition is hopeless.
5. But eventually, most of them will accept the diagnosis.

Sometimes doctor may also prescribe medicines (like antidepressants) to help decrease feelings of anxiety. This option is also intended to help patients through their grieving process.

Moreover, there is a chance for the cancer and its treatment to lead to physical changes. And these changes cannot be easy to cope with, which then may affect on how you feel about yourself.

For instances, patients may have a problem with his /her sex life and the way to socialize with others (those changes may affect their self esteem). Some patients may also not able to cope with the feeling of easily to get tired – particularly after taking certain treatment. Sometimes, they may also be difficult to digest food that they eat.

In addition, liver failure and gastrointestinal bleeding are other complications associated with HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma - the most common type of primary liver cancer) – according to NCI (the National Cancer Institute).

Living with liver cancer!

Once again, it’s not easy to cope and live with liver cancer. But if you are diagnosed with this disease, you need to keep motivated that there is always a way of your problem!

Though there is no easy answer for you dealing with this disease, some of the following pieces of information may be of help!

Get to know more about anything associated with your disease!

Ask your specialist or doctor about your disease, particularly such as the possible treatment options that you have and the stage of your liver cancer.

Moreover, you may also like to know about the prognosis of patients with the same case. In some patients, knowing the statistic of survival rate and prognosis can help them to keep motivated and increase their confidence to take their treatment options. But if you feel that this statistic is not helpful, you don’t need to get to know it.

Ask also other advice to your doctor about anything that you can do to make you become more confident in making your treatment decisions.

Keep close to your lovely people!

Getting the strongly support from your lovely people is one of best ways to keep you motivated for your cancer-fighting. Your lovely people can provide the practical and emotional support.

Therefore, it is important for you to build a good relationship with your family and friends. This good relationship will help you cope with your disease.

Share what you feel!

Find somebody to share what you feel. Find a good listener (like your family member or your best friend) who is willing to listen anything (such as your fears and your hopes) that you want to share.

Joining to a cancer support group is also good idea. This will help you to completely understand that you are not alone. Ask your doctor about a local group that can help you!

What else you should consider?

As mentioned before, this disease is often associated with the possibility of life-threatening. Therefore, it’s much better to also make plants for the unknown condition. Discuss more with your doctor about this issue to get more advice!