Liver Cancer

Each type of cancer has its own research, treatments and resources devoted to them. This page gives an overview of Liver Cancer and for your convenience we have included the most recent news stories concerning Liver Cancer. Be sure to check out our listings page for links to more information.

Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver.

The liver is one of the largest organs in the body, filling the upper right side of the abdomen inside the rib cage. It has two parts, a right lobe and a smaller left lobe. The liver has many important functions, including:

Filtering harmful substances from the blood so they can be passed from the body in stools and urine.
Making bile to help digest fats from food.
Storing glycogen (sugar), which the body uses for energy.
This summary refers to the treatment of primary liver cancer (cancer that begins in the liver). Treatment of metastatic liver cancer, which is cancer that begins in other parts of the body and spreads to the liver, is not discussed in this summary. Primary liver cancer can occur in both adults and children. Treatment for children, however, is different than treatment for adults. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Liver Cancer Treatment for more information.)

Having hepatitis or cirrhosis can affect the risk of developing adult primary liver cancer.

The following are possible risk factors for adult primary liver cancer:

Having hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C.
Having a close relative with both hepatitis and liver cancer.
Having cirrhosis.
Eating foods tainted with aflatoxin (poison from a fungus that can grow on foods, such as grains and nuts, that have not been stored properly).
Possible signs of adult primary liver cancer include a lump or pain on the right side.

These symptoms may be caused by swelling of the liver. These and other symptoms may be caused by adult primary liver cancer or by other conditions. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

A hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage.
Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right side.
Pain around the right shoulder blade.
Unexplained weight loss.
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
Unusual tiredness.
Nausea.
Loss of appetite.
Tests that examine the liver and the blood are used to detect (find) and diagnose adult primary liver cancer.

The following tests and procedures may be used:

Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Serum tumor marker test: A procedure in which a sample of blood is examined to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs, tissues, or tumor cells in the body. Certain substances are linked to specific types of cancer when found in increased levels in the blood. These are called tumor markers. An increased level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood may be a sign of liver cancer. Other cancers and certain noncancerous conditions, including cirrhosis and hepatitis, may also increase AFP levels.
Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure to look at the organs inside the abdomen to check for signs of disease. Small incisions (cuts) are made in the wall of the abdomen and a laparoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted into one of the incisions. Other instruments may be inserted through the same or other incisions to perform procedures such as removing organs or taking tissue samples for biopsy.
Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. The sample may be taken using a fine needle inserted into the liver during an x-ray or ultrasound. This is called needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration. The biopsy may be done during a laparoscopy.
CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
Ultrasound: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

The stage of the cancer (the size of the tumor, whether it affects part or all of the liver, or has spread to other places in the body).
How well the liver is working.
The patient’s general health, including whether there is cirrhosis of the liver.
Prognosis is also affected by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels

 

Liver Cancer in the News...

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 Onyx Has Blockbuster Potential (Zacks.com via Yahoo! Finance)
In addition to the US and EU, Nexavar has been approved in South Korea and China for liver cancer.

 Drug denial is devastating 'death sentence' for cancer patients (Daily Mail)
Thousands of kidney cancer patients have been handed an 'early death sentence' under plans to ban life-extending new drugs because they cost too much.

 Yodrak rushed to hospital (The Nation - Thailand's English news)
Singer Nipon "Yodrak Salakjai" Praiwan, in Bangkok's Praram IX Hospital with liver cancer, was rushed into intensive care Wednesday. His illness has worsened and he is losing consciousness.

 As Cancer Lingered, She Lived a Bold Life (New York Times)
Karen Pasqualetto faced a grim cancer diagnosis with grit and tenacity.

 Pasig hospital offers fresh hope to liver cancer patients (Philippine Daily I...
MANILA, Philippines – A new technology introduced recently in the Philippines offers new hope to Filipinos with liver cancer, including those whose chances of survival are considered slim.

 Airport water tests show contaminant (The Beaver County Times)
FINDLAY TWP. — Tests of Pittsburgh International Airport’s drinking water last month revealed the water had excessive levels of a chemical that can increase cancer risks and cause liver, kidney and central-nervous system problems if consumed over many years, airport and health officials said.

 Day camp helps children, teens cope with loss of loved one (The Providence Jo...
After Rebecca Olabisi died in April 2007 after two years of battling liver cancer, her two teenage children were so grief-stricken they could barely speak.

 Tarrant County services provide hope in cancer battle (Fort Worth Business Pr...
Vickie was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in 1999 at 42 years of age. She had a mastectomy and chemotherapy, but in 2003 it was confirmed that the cancer had spread to her bone marrow, liver and spleen. More chemotherapy stabilized the cancer. Vickie is living with and surviving cancer.

 It’s been a tough week for Wheat Kings’ and the Stouffer family (Thursday...
Last Wednesday, tragedy struck within the Wheat Kings organization. Rob Stouffer, a long-time trainer with the WHL club, passed away after a long-time fight with liver cancer. Stouffer joined the Wh

 Early screening is crucial to improving recovery rates for breast cancer (Orl...
For many American women, breast cancer is the killer they fear most.