Liver Cancer
Oncological SurgeryLiver cancers can be defined as tumors that arise in the parenchymal tissue of the liver itself, but it should not be forgotten that most of the cancers observed in the liver occur through the spread of cancers located in another region.
Primary liver cancers (direct tumors of the liver itself)
While the disease is an important public health problem, especially in regions where Hepatitis B infection is common, it is a less common type of cancer in developed countries where vaccination is effective.
It is more common in men than in women. Hepatocellular carcinoma originating from the hepatocyte, the functional cell of the liver, accounts for approximately 90% of liver cancers.
The remaining ones are tumors called cholangiocarcinoma, which mostly originate from the bile ducts within the liver. They are usually detected at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.
Liver Cancer Symptoms
Many patients with liver cancer do not have any symptoms in the early stages. For this reason, follow-up is very important for early diagnosis, especially in high-risk patients such as chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, even if there are no complaints.
Liver cancers are usually caused by bloating in the abdomen, yellowing of the skin, itching, pain starting from the upper right part of the abdomen and radiating to the back, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite for weeks, feeling of fullness and bloating after eating despite eating very little, fever, sweating at night, sudden deterioration in general health, urination. It manifests itself with symptoms of jaundice such as darkening in color and pale stools.
Most of these symptoms are not distinctive signs of liver cancer because they can all be caused by many other conditions.
Liver Cancer Treatment
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and different treatment options are available. The treatment method that patients benefit most from is surgical treatment.
Removal of a part of the liver to contain the tumors (Hepatectomy) or liver transplantation are treatment options. It can be applied within safe limits by experienced surgeons. A point to consider in liver surgery is that the remaining liver must have a functional capacity and size sufficient for the patient.
In tumors where surgery is not suitable or in patients who are thought to be unable to undergo these major surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, methods in which the tumor is burned (ablation therapy), clogging of the vessels feeding the tumor with chemotherapy beads, or intravenous chemotherapy can be applied.