Effective Treatments For Liver Cancer
Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer from liver cancer alone. There are many effective treatments available today for liver cancer. Some of these treatments are effective in preventing liver cancer, while others are designed to treat liver cancer. Some of these treatments include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. You should also try to prevent liver cancer through healthy lifestyle choices, and regular exercise. You may also want to consult with your doctor to discuss which treatments are right for you.
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Approximately 700,000 people die of liver cancer worldwide every year. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 70-90 percent of the total liver cancer burden in the world. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in men and the sixth most common in women.
It is often the result of chronic hepatitis B or C infection. Alcohol abuse may also be a contributing factor. Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus is also associated with a higher risk of developing HCC. A recent study suggests that dietary intake of aflatoxin B1 may synergize with a viral infection. A decrease in BSEP level is associated with a poor prognosis, whereas a decrease in AFP level is associated with a favorable prognosis.
There are five major types of primary liver cancer. These are hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrolamellar carcinoma, angiosarcoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and bile duct cancer. These types of cancer vary in cytological and molecular characteristics. It is not uncommon for people to present at an advanced stage of the disease, and treatment depends on the size of the tumor.
In order to understand the molecular biology of liver cancer, several studies have been conducted. Researchers have identified several oncogenic pathways. The oncogenic pathways include PI3K/Akt, cyclin D1, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), transforming growth factor b (TGF-b), Wnt/b-catenin, and p53.
The p53 gene is a critical gene for suppressing cancer in humans. It plays a role in apoptosis, aging, and cell cycle arrest. When mutated, it causes tumor cells to have increased malignant potentials. Some mutations in the p53 gene are associated with hepatitis B virus infection.
Cholangiocarcinoma
Among the most deadly cancers is cholangiocarcinoma. This rare disease is caused by the growth of cancerous cells in the bile ducts. The tumors can also spread to other parts of the body. Despite the serious nature of the disease, there are treatment options that can control the tumor and keep it in check.
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the bile ducts inside the liver. These tumors are often mistaken for liver cancer. However, cholangiocarcinoma is distinct from hepatocellular carcinoma, which occurs as a result of the malignant transformation of hepatocytes.
Although bile duct cancer is extremely rare, it is important to be able to recognize it. While some people have it for years without ever seeing a doctor, other patients have it at an advanced stage and need to be treated. Treatment may include surgery or chemotherapy.
While the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma is unknown, one possible risk factor is chronic inflammation in the bile ducts. Other risk factors include liver fluke infection and hepatolithiasis.
The most common symptom of cholangiocarcinoma in adults is jaundice, which can cause yellowing of the skin. Patients may also have light-colored and greasy stools. Usually, the disease is not detected until it has spread beyond the liver.
Cholangiocarcinoma can be treated with surgery. The Whipple procedure is used to remove part of the small intestine, pancreas, and gallbladder. Another option is bile duct drainage, which uses a stent to help clear the ducts. Several other treatments may be used in combination with surgery.
Several studies have shown an increasing trend in mortality rates. For example, in England, the number of cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma increased dramatically from 1968 to 1998. However, mortality trends for other primary liver tumors have been unremarkable.
Fibrolamellar HCC
Known for its fibrous bands of tissue, fibrolamellar HCC is a rare type of liver cancer. Its occurrence is highest in young adults and teens, though it can also occur in adults. The exact cause of fibrolamellar cancer is not known, but it is thought to be caused by a chimeric gene that creates an abnormal protein.
Researchers are working on ways to treat fibrolamellar HCC. Some of these treatments are immunotherapy, which aims to enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer. Others focus on blocking the abnormal protein, which could help to stop the tumor’s growth. Other treatments may include radiation or surgical removal.
While there is no standard treatment for fibrolamellar HCC, treatment is based on the symptoms that each individual has. This type of cancer is often treated by a team of experts including a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and other specialists.
One type of treatment used for FLC is embolization therapy, which involves cutting off the blood supply to a part of the liver. The tumor is then killed. However, this type of treatment has a higher rate of surgical complications.
Another method of treatment for FLC is liver transplantation, which involves replacing a healthy life with one from a donor. This treatment is only performed when cancer has not spread to other areas of the body. However, it is a major surgery, and patients usually require lifelong immunosuppressive medications.
Researchers are also looking at whether there are other genetic risk factors for fibrolamellar HCC. They are also investigating possible environmental factors that could cause the disease. There is also research into therapies that target the chimeric gene.
Cirrhosis
During the past decade, the rate of cirrhosis and liver cancer deaths has increased. This is primarily due to heavy alcohol consumption. However, other factors have also contributed to the rising number of people with this disease. It is important to know what causes cirrhosis and liver cancer, and what the best prevention strategies are.
The study examines trends in mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (C22.0) between 1999 and 2016. The data are obtained from the US Census Bureau. Researchers used the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) platform to collect the data. The results show that the rates of cirrhosis and liver cancer have increased for both sexes.
The fastest increase in mortality occurred in the south of the United States. However, in recent years, the northeast and the Midwest also saw significant increases in cirrhosis and liver cancer. The rate of cirrhosis and liver disease-related mortality increased by 3.0 percent annually in the west, 3.0 percent in the east, 2.4 percent in the south, and 1.6 percent in the northeast.
Cirrhosis-related mortality has also increased in younger people. For people 25 to 34 years old, the rate increased by 10.5 percent annually. The rate of cirrhosis-related mortality has increased for Native Americans and for Hispanic Americans. This is more than double the rate of increase for non-Hispanic Americans.
While cirrhosis-related mortality has increased, the rate of all-cause mortality has improved. The trend in mortality related to hepatocellular carcinoma was parallel to the trend for mortality from cirrhosis. However, the trend for all-cause mortality was not statistically parallel.
In addition, Asians and Pacific Islanders had lower mortality than other groups. This may be due to a combination of genetics and alcohol consumption.
Treatment options
During your liver cancer treatment, you will need to choose a treatment option that is best for you. Your health care team will work together with you to find the best treatment option for your condition. They will also help you understand your options and discuss any possible side effects.
Treatment options for liver cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. These treatments will help you reduce your symptoms, improve your quality of life, and may help you survive.
Surgery is one of the most successful types of disease-directed treatments. During surgery, your surgeon will remove part of the liver that is affected by the tumor.
Chemoembolization is another liver cancer treatment option that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. During chemoembolization, a medical oncologist or cancer nurse injects drugs into the hepatic artery. This procedure is safe and effective for patients with liver tumors that are less than three centimeters in diameter.
Biological therapy is another liver cancer treatment option that involves modifying the normal function of a cell. This may be done through injections of drugs that change the way the cells signal one another. Another type of treatment, called microwave therapy, is similar to radiofrequency ablation but uses heat to destroy cancer cells.
Targeted therapy is another type of liver cancer treatment that uses drugs to target specific proteins or genes in the cancer cells. This type of treatment is most effective in people who have certain genetic mutations. This type of treatment may also include immunotherapy, which uses the immune system to help fight cancer.
Other liver cancer treatments include radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment is often used in conjunction with other treatments.
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