Dr. Satish Koul, General Physician at Gurgaon's Columbia Asia Hospital explains in detail what is liver cancer, what are the causes of liver causes, symptoms of liver cancer, treatment and prevention of liver cancer.
What is liver cancer?
Dr. Satish elaborates what is liver cancer in simple words. "These are malignant tumours which are primarily caused in the liver cells. It is often confused with liver metastases, which are cancers that originate in another organ and spreads to the liver."
"The most common liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma. Sometimes, a hepatocellular carcinoma can have another component called cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Cancers that arise from the blood vessels in the liver are called hemangioendotheliomas. Rarer forms of liver cancer include hepatoblastomas (common in children), sarcoma, etc.," explains the doctor.
What are the causes of liver cancer?
Common risk factors for liver cancer are:
Cirrhosis
.jpg)
Aflatoxin exposure
Glycogen storage disease in children
Diabetes
What are the symptoms?
"Many times the liver cancer is recognised as an incidental finding during imaging or it may be seen as an abdominal mass, abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea or liver dysfunction. Other symptoms include anaemia, back pain, jaundice, itching, weight loss, unexplained fever," says Dr. Satish, hence it is important to get tested to avoid liver cancer.
How do you prevent it?
Dr. Satish Koul lists out means for prevention of liver cancer, "As Hepatitis B and C are the main causes of liver cancer, childhood vaccination against hepatitis B may reduce the risk of liver cancer in the future. In case of patients with cirrhosis alcohol consumption is to be avoided."
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment