Liver Cancer

What is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the liver. The liver is a vital organ that filters blood, stores energy, and makes proteins your body needs. When cancer develops in the liver, it can start there directly or spread from cancer in another part of your body.

Primary liver cancer begins in the liver itself. The most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma, which starts in the main liver cells called hepatocytes. Other types include cholangiocarcinoma, which starts in the bile ducts, and angiosarcoma, which begins in the blood vessels of the liver. Liver cancer is often diagnosed in later stages because early symptoms can be mild or absent.

Your liver has an amazing ability to function even when part of it is damaged. This means liver cancer can grow for some time before you notice problems. Early detection through regular blood testing can help catch warning signs before serious symptoms appear. Understanding your risk factors and monitoring liver health is key to preventing and catching this disease early.

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Symptoms

Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen
Swelling or bloating in your belly
Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
Feeling very tired or weak most of the time
Yellowing of your skin and eyes, known as jaundice
Nausea and vomiting
Pale or chalky stools
Dark urine
Fever and night sweats
Easy bruising or bleeding

Many people with early liver cancer have no symptoms at all. The liver can continue working fairly well even when damaged, so warning signs often appear only when the cancer has grown. Regular blood testing can detect changes in liver function before symptoms develop.

Causes and risk factors

Liver cancer often develops from long-term liver damage and inflammation. Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are leading causes worldwide. These viruses cause ongoing inflammation that can lead to scarring, called cirrhosis, which greatly increases cancer risk. Heavy alcohol use over many years also damages the liver and raises your risk. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, often linked to obesity and diabetes, is becoming a more common cause as well.

Other risk factors include exposure to aflatoxins, which are toxins from mold on improperly stored grains and nuts. Certain inherited liver diseases like hemochromatosis and Wilson disease increase risk. People with diabetes and metabolic syndrome face higher risk, especially when combined with obesity. Men develop liver cancer more often than women. Age matters too, as most cases occur in people over 60. Smoking and certain chemical exposures also contribute to liver cancer development.

How it's diagnosed

Liver cancer is diagnosed using a combination of blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes a biopsy. Blood tests can reveal elevated liver enzymes like GGT, which may indicate liver damage or disease. Bilirubin levels, especially direct bilirubin, can rise when the liver cannot process waste properly. Tumor markers like CA 19-9 may be elevated in some liver cancers and help assess the extent of disease. Testing for hepatitis C antibodies helps identify chronic infection, a major risk factor for liver cancer.

Rite Aid offers blood testing that includes key liver health markers like bilirubin, GGT, CA 19-9, and hepatitis C antibody screening. These tests can detect early warning signs and help monitor your liver health over time. If blood tests show concerning results, your doctor will likely order imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to look at your liver directly. A liver biopsy may be needed to confirm cancer and determine its type.

Treatment options

Surgery to remove the tumor or part of the liver when cancer is caught early
Liver transplant for eligible patients with small tumors and severe liver damage
Ablation therapy that uses heat or cold to destroy cancer cells
Embolization to block blood flow to the tumor and deliver chemotherapy directly
Radiation therapy to target and kill cancer cells
Targeted drug therapies like sorafenib and lenvatinib that attack specific cancer pathways
Immunotherapy medications that help your immune system fight cancer
Stopping alcohol use completely to prevent further liver damage
Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity
Managing underlying conditions like hepatitis, diabetes, and fatty liver disease

Frequently asked questions

Early liver cancer often has no symptoms because the liver can function well even when partly damaged. When symptoms do appear, they may include pain in the upper right abdomen, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and feeling very tired. Yellowing skin or eyes, swelling in the belly, and pale stools can also signal liver problems. Regular blood testing can catch warning signs before symptoms develop.

Blood tests cannot diagnose liver cancer on their own, but they can detect warning signs and liver damage. Tests like GGT, bilirubin levels, and CA 19-9 can show abnormal liver function or the presence of tumor markers. Hepatitis C antibody testing identifies chronic infection, a major risk factor for liver cancer. Abnormal blood test results usually lead to imaging tests for confirmation.

People with chronic hepatitis B or C infections face the highest risk. Heavy alcohol users and people with cirrhosis from any cause are also at increased risk. Those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, and obesity have higher rates of liver cancer. Men over 60, smokers, and people with inherited liver diseases like hemochromatosis also face elevated risk.

Liver cancer can be curable when caught early and treated with surgery or transplant. Small tumors found before they spread offer the best chance for cure. Unfortunately, many cases are diagnosed at later stages when cure is less likely. Treatment can still extend life and improve quality even in advanced cases. Early detection through regular testing is critical for the best outcomes.

If you have risk factors like hepatitis, cirrhosis, or fatty liver disease, talk to your doctor about screening frequency. High-risk individuals may need blood tests and imaging every 6 months. People without major risk factors should still monitor liver health with regular blood work annually. Rite Aid offers testing twice per year to track liver markers and catch changes early.

CA 19-9 is a tumor marker that can be elevated in several types of cancer, including some liver cancers. High levels may indicate cancer presence or help assess how extensive the disease is. However, CA 19-9 can also be elevated in non-cancerous conditions like pancreatitis and bile duct blockages. Your doctor will use this test alongside other tests and imaging to make a diagnosis.

Yes, many lifestyle changes can significantly lower your liver cancer risk. Avoid heavy alcohol use and maintain a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and exercise. Getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and avoiding hepatitis C exposure are critical prevention steps. Managing diabetes and metabolic syndrome also reduces risk. Avoiding aflatoxin exposure by properly storing grains and nuts helps too.

Primary liver cancer starts in the liver itself, with hepatocellular carcinoma being the most common type. Secondary liver cancer, also called metastatic liver cancer, starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the liver. Many cancers can spread to the liver because it filters large amounts of blood. Treatment and prognosis differ significantly between primary and secondary liver cancer.

Jaundice happens when bilirubin, a yellow waste product, builds up in your blood and tissues. Your liver normally processes and removes bilirubin. When liver cancer damages liver cells or blocks bile ducts, bilirubin cannot be processed properly. This causes the yellowing of skin and eyes characteristic of jaundice, along with dark urine and pale stools.

Advanced liver cancer that cannot be removed with surgery has several treatment options. Targeted therapies like sorafenib and lenvatinib attack specific pathways cancer cells use to grow. Immunotherapy drugs help your immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. Radiation therapy and embolization can shrink tumors and relieve symptoms. Your cancer team will create a treatment plan based on your specific situation and overall health.