Liver+Cancer


 * [[image:liverribbon.jpg width="100" height="106" link="http://www.medicinenet.com/liver_cancer/article.htm"]] || [[image:LIVER_CANCER_TITLE.png width="578" height="133"]] ||

Cancer is uncontrollable growth of your cells. I chose to research liver cancer because I thought it would be interesting to learn about. Liver cancer, also known as hepatoma, is cancer arising from the liver. Liver cancer is the __fifth__ most common cancer in the world. Liver cancer will kill almost all patients who have it within a year. The liver is made up of different cell types (hepatocytes) and they make up about 80% of the liver tissue. Over 90 to 95% of liver cancer arises by liver cells, which is called hepatecellular cancer or carcinoma. Usually when patients and physicians talk about liver cancer, that usually means cancer that started in another organ in the body and spread to the liver. This type of liver cancer is called metastatic liver disease (cancer) or secondary liver cancer.
 * __WHAT IS CANCER?__**

The most common symptom of liver cancer is abdominal pain and it usually signifies a very large tumor or widespread involvement of the liver. Warning signs of liver cancer to patients with cirrosis are unexplained weightloss or fevers. These symptoms are less common in individuals with liver cancer in the U.S. because these patients are usually diagnosed at an earlier stage. Areas where there is a high frequency of liver cancer are generally developing countries where access to healthcare is limited.
 * __SYMPTOMS__**

Risk factors of liver cancer are having a chronic liver infection, being male, having a family history of the disease, exposure to aflatoxin, having cirrhosis, and being 60 years of age or older.
 * __RISK FACTORS__**
 * __STATISTICS__ ** In 2006, The American Cancer Society estimates that 18,510 men and women (12,600 men and 5,910 women) will be diagnosed with liver cancer and that 16,200 men and women will die of liver cancer.

 __TREATMENTS FOR CANCER__ Surgury Chemotherapy Radiotherapy Hormone therapy Biological therapy Bisphosphonates Cancer drugs
 * * 1.2 percent were diagnosed under age 20
 * 1.2 percent were diagnosed between 20 and 34
 * 4.2 percent were diagnosed between 35 and 44
 * 18.2 percent were diagnosed between 55 and 64
 * 21.0 percent were diagnosed between 65 and 74
 * 26.4 percent were diagnosed between 65 and 74
 * 21.2 percent were diagnosed between 75 and 84
 * 6.6 percent were diagnosed at 85 years of age or older || [[image:GRAPH_LIVER_CANCER.png width="474" height="270"]] ||

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__CHEMOTHERAPY__ Chemotherapy is a treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. After chemo is over the side effects usually go away. Chemo can be given alone but more often than not you will get it with surgury, radiation therapy or biological therapy. Chemotherapy can make a tumor smaller before surgury, destroy cancer cells that still remain after surgury or radiation, help radiation or biological therapy work better, or destroy cancer cells that have come back or have spread to other parts of the body. There are many ways you can recieve chemo, such as injection: given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip or right under the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly, Intra-arterial(IA): goes directly into the artery that is feeding the cancer, Intraperitoneal(IP): goes directly into the peritoneal cavity (the area that contains organs such as your intestines, stomach, liver, and ovaries), Intravenous(IV): goes directly into a vein, Topically: it comes in a cream that you rub onto your skin, and Orally: comes in pills, capsules, or liquids that you swallow. The cost all depends on the types and doses of chemo used, how long and how often chemotherapy is given, whether you get chemotherapy at home, in a clinic or office, or during a hospital stay, and the part of the country where you live. Side effects from chemotherapy can include pain, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, as well as blood-related side effects. __TOP 10 WAYS TO PREVENT CANCER?__ 1.) avoid smoking and exposure to smoke 2.) practice sun safety and recognize when skin changes occur 3.) eat your fruits and vegetables 4.) limit red meat and animal fat 5.) limit your alcohol intake 6.) exercise for cancer prevention 7.) know your personal and family medical history 8.) know what your being exposed to in your work environment 9.) practice safe sex 10.) get screened for cancer regularly

__WHATS NEW ON LIVER CANCER__ Radiotherapy improves outcomes of liver cancer with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus. Main portal vein tumor thrombus compromises blood supply to the normal liver parenchyma and worsens liver function, which is limiting the application of transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

__FACTS ABOUT LIVER CANCER__ According to the Illinois State Cancer Registry, in 2008, about 650 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in Illinois. Of these, about 460 will be in men and about 190 will be in women. About 520 Illinoisans are expected to die of liver cancer in 2008. Liver cancer occurs more often in people older than age 60. Obesity can cause liver cancer.

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