What is Liver Cancer?
What is Liver Cancer?Liver cancer, also referred to as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is defined as cancer found anywhere in the liver. It is one of the leading causes of cancer worldwide.
Part of the digestive system, the liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It executes hundreds of tasks, including protein synthesis, detoxification, and the production of chemicals aiding in food digestion.
This football-shaped gland lies on the top-right side of the stomach, just beneath your right lung. As a passageway for the blood, the liver is accessible to cancerous cells traveling in the bloodstream.
Types of Liver Cancer
TypesSeveral types of cancer can form in the liver. The types are broken down into two categories: Primary liver cancer and secondary liver cancer.
Primary liver cancer
Primary liver cancer originates in the liver. There are three types of primary liver cancer:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - This is the most common form of liver cancer. Some of these cancer types start as a single tumor, while others begin as small nodules throughout the liver. Primary liver cancer that starts out as multiple small nodules is often seen in people with chronic liver damage (cirrhosis).
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) - This form of cancer develops in the bile ducts of the liver
- Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma - These cancers are both extremely rare. They start in the lining of the blood cells within the liver.
Secondary liver cancer
Secondary liver cancer occurs when cancer has spread to the liver from another area of the body (e.g. liver, breast, colon, pancreas, melanoma, lymphoma, and others). Also referred to as metastatic cancer, the treatment options may depend on where the cancer originated from.
Stages of Primary Liver Cancer
StagesHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer. HCC is traditionally categorized into four stages (I-IV), depending on its size and how far it has spread throughout the body.
The stages of primary liver cancer are:
- Stage I: A singular tumor (less than 2 cm in size) is confined to a small area. The liver cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other cells.
- Stage II: The single tumor has grown in size, or you may have developed more than one. The liver cancer may have spread to the blood vessels.
- Stage III: The tumor(s) have grown larger and may have spread to other sites in the body
- Stage IV: The cancer has metastasized and may have spread to lymph nodes or other organs within the body
Other staging systems, such as the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system (BCLC), also factor in how well the liver is functioning when determining staging.
Signs & Symptoms of Liver Cancer
SymptomsMost people do not experience symptoms of liver cancer in its earliest stages. As the disease progresses, liver cancer signs in later stages may include:
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Fluid in the abdominal cavity, called ascites
- Pain in the back or right shoulder blade
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Fatigue
- Nausea/vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dark urine
- Pale stools
- Fever
What Causes Liver Cancer?
CausesLiver cancer begins when DNA cells mutate, grow, and divide in an abnormal manner. These multiplying, abnormal cells can form a tumor inside the liver and affect its function. Liver cancer can then spread to other parts of the body.
Risk Factors
Risk FactorsAlthough the direct cause of why some cells become cancerous is unknown, there are factors that may cause abnormal mutations in the liver cells. Causes of primary liver cancer can include:
- Livers damaged by birth defects
- Chronic hepatitis B (HBV)
- Chronic hepatitis C (HCV)
- Alcohol abuse, leading to inflammation or cirrhosis of the liver
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Hemochromatosis, or other inherited disorders such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency that can damage the liver
- Tobacco use
How to Prevent Liver Cancer
PreventionThere is no guaranteed way to prevent liver cancer, but you can take preventive measures to reduce your risk, including:
- Avoid excessive alcohol use, or any behaviors that can lead to cirrhosis
- Quit using tobacco, including cigarettes, pipes, vapes, cigars, and chewing tobacco
- Avoid contracting hepatitis B, C. Ask your physician about getting a hepatitis B vaccine
- Maintain a healthy weight and diet
- Cancer screenings. If you are obese, drink heavily, have diabetes, or have cirrhosis, ask your doctor about preventive screenings for liver cancer
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Liver Cancer Care
The surgeons, hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists at NewYork-Presbyterian are experts in identifying liver cancer symptoms and high-risk factors in patients, which helps increase the odds of early detection.
Our experienced multidisciplinary cancer teams, combined with the best in medical technology, can deliver a diagnosis and walk you through your treatment options.
If you’re concerned about possible symptoms of liver cancer, or have an underlying condition that can raise your risk of developing the disease, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.