Diagnosis of Liver Cancer
If you have symptoms that suggest liver cancer, there are different types of diagnostic tests your physician may order.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer among men, and ninth most common type of cancer among women. Around 28,000 Americans are diagnosed with liver cancer every year.
Liver Cancer Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing liver cancer include:
- Having hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C.
- Having a close relative with both hepatitis B and liver cancer.
- Having cirrhosis.
- Eating foods tainted with aflatoxin (poison from a fungus that can grow on foods, such as grains and nuts, that have not been stored properly).
- Obesity.
Signs & Symptoms of Liver Cancer
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your physician
- Hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage.
- Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right side.
- Pain around the right shoulder blade.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
- Unusual tiredness.
- Nausea.
- Loss of appetite.
Liver Cancer Staging
There are 4 different stages of liver cancer. Figuring out the stage will help your oncologist determine the type of treatment for liver cancer.
Treatment Types for Liver Cancer
Read through the types of treatments that could be used to treat liver cancer like surgery, ablation, embolization, targeted therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
