The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right hand side of the body and is divided into sections called lobes. The liver is a vital organ for human body and its functions are broad:

• Breaks down food containing carbohydrates (sugars) and fats, so they can be used by the body for energy;
• Stores substances such as glucose and vitamins for use by the body when necessary;
• Produces blood proteins, one of them helps to clot the blood and prevent excessive bleeding, while others maintain fluid balance in the body;
• Produces bile, a substance which breaks down the fats in food so that they can be absorbed from the bowel (intestine);
• Destroys harmful substances, such as alcohol and gets rid of waste products. Breaks down substances not used by the body, so that they can be passed out in the urine or stools;
• An amazing capacity to repair itself. It will function normally with only a small portion of it in full working order.

What is Liver Cancer?

Types of Liver Cancer

Primary Liver Cancer means cancer starts in the liver itself; it is one of the most common cancers in some parts of Asia, including the coastal area of China, for example Hong Kong, Taiwan, Guangxi and Vietnam.

Secondary Liver Cancer means cancer has started in another part of the body and has spread to the liver. Almost any cancer can spread to the liver, but the most common ones include bowel, pancreas, stomach, lung and breast cancer.

The Causes of Primary Liver Cancer

Cirrhosis
This is a fine scarring of the liver which is due to a variety of causes including heavy alcohol drinking over a long period of time.

Hepatitis
Infection with either the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus can lead to liver cancer, and can also be the cause of cirrhosis, which increases the risk of developing hepatoma (cancer of the liver cells).

Haemachromatosis
A rare condition, which causes excess deposits of iron in the body, may also lead to an increased risk of hepatoma.

Aflatoxin
In Asia, a poison called aflatoxin, found in mouldy peanuts and grain, is an important cause of hepatoma.

Bile duct cancer
Bile duct cancers (cholangio carcinomas) are less common than hepatomas. They are more likely to occur in people with conditions which cause inflammation of the bowel, such as ulcerative colitis. In Asia, infection with a parasite known as the liver fluke is thought to cause many cholangiocarcinomas.

The Causes of Secondary Cancer

The cause of secondary liver cancer is always a primary cancer situated elsewhere in the body that has spread to the liver. If cancer cells from the primary cancer have escaped into the bloodstream, the liver is a likely place for them to settle as all the blood in the body passes through the liver.

The Common Symptoms of Both Types of Cancer

• Loss of appetite, weight loss
• Pain felt in the upper abdomen or the right shoulder
• Jaundice
• Ascites

The above symptoms are not unique to cancer, so when they happen, don't over react. If you have jaundice or ascites, consult your doctor immediately to avoid delay of treatment.

The Main Type of Treatment

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Laser or radiofrequency (thermal) ablation
• Cryosurgery
• Chemoembolisation
• Alcohol treatment

Your doctor who plans your treatment taking into accounts on a number of factors:

• whether the cancer is a primary or secondary liver cancer
• your age
• your general health
• the type and size of the cancer
• whether the liver is affected by any other disease, such as cirrhosis

Follow-up

The above symptoms are not unique to cancer, so when they happen, don't over react. If you have jaundice or ascites, consult your doctor immediately to avoid delay of treatment.

*Preventive Measures for all cancers

• Do not smoke
• Limit alcohol intake
• Receive Hepatitis B Vaccination
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday
• Maintain your Body Mass Index (BMI) to a healthy range between 18.5 and 22.9
• Consume less red meat and processed meat
• Consume different types of fruit & vegetables, grains and beans
• Avoid food with high salt content or preserved with salt
• Avoid food and drink with high sugar content

Source of materials:
Liver Cancer: The Hong Kong Cancer Fund
*Preventive Measures for all cancers: The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society