Liver Cancer

Most patients do not present with signs and symptoms when the cancer is in its early stages. However, the signs and symptoms, when present, include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• General weakness and tiredness
• Lump in the abdomen
• Jaundice or yellow discolouration of the skin and the eyes
• White, chalky stools

If you regularly experience the symptoms mentioned above and it worries you, you can visit Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai and get an appointment with an expert doctor.

Liver cancer occurs due to mutations in the genetic material or DNA of the liver cells. The DNA of the cells instructs the cells to carry out their functions. When the DNA mutates, it loses the capability to guide the cells in the right direction. Therefore, the cells become abnormal and start dividing uncontrollably, resulting in a tumour. Chronic hepatitis infections sometimes give rise to liver cancers; other times, they occur in the absence of underlying diseases, and the cause is unknown.

• Chronic hepatitis infection
  Chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection increases the risk of developing liver cancer.
• Liver cirrhosis
  It is a progressive, irreversible condition that causes scar tissue to build up in the liver and increases the chances of getting liver cancer.
• Inherited liver diseases
  Certain inherited liver diseases can increase the risk of liver cancer, including hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease.
• Diabetes
  Diabetics are at an increased risk of developing liver cancer than those who do not have diabetes.
• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  Excessive fat accumulation in the liver makes a person susceptible to developing liver cancer.
• Exposure to aflatoxins
  Certain poisons called aflatoxins produced by moulds grow on grains and nuts that are poorly stored. Consumption of foods contaminated with aflatoxins increases the risk of liver cancer.
• Excessive alcohol consumption
  It leads to irreversible liver damage, thereby increasing the risk of developing liver cancer.

Liver cancer can be prevented by reducing or controlling the risk factors.

• Reduce your risk of liver cirrhosis
  This can be achieved by decreasing alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight by following a well-balanced diet and staying physically active.
• Hepatitis B vaccination
  The risk of developing liver cancer decreases significantly if one is vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus. The vaccine can be taken by anyone— adults, infants, and immunocompromised individuals.
• Take measures to prevent hepatitis C
  Although there is no available vaccine to prevent hepatitis C infection, it can be prevented by taking certain measures. Do not indulge in unprotected sexual intercourse, be careful not to use contaminated needles while taking I/V drugs, and ensure maintenance of proper hygiene if you choose to get a piercing or a tattoo.

Liver screening has no proven benefits for the general population. But, for individuals who have conditions that increase the risk of liver cancer, liver screening is considered to be beneficial. The healthcare providers at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai will discuss with you the pros and cons of screening and decide if screening is the right option for you. Screening generally involves doing an abdominal ultrasound and certain blood tests.

• Blood tests
  Blood tests may indicate liver function abnormalities.
• Imaging tests
  Imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scan may be recommended.
• Liver biopsy
  It involves the removal of a sample of liver tissue for testing. It is done to confirm the diagnosis of cancer in highly suspicious cases.

After diagnosing liver cancer, certain imaging tests such as CT scans and MRI are done to determine the stage of cancer and its spread. These tests also help to evaluate the size of cancer and its location.

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is the best Liver Cancer treatment hospital in Navi Mumbai. The treatment plan for the primary liver cancers depends on the stage of cancer, how much it has spread, and the patient's overall health.

Surgery

• Surgery for tumour resection
  If the tumour is small and the liver function is intact, an operation aimed at removing the liver cancer may be recommended. Some portion of the healthy tissue surrounding the cancer is also removed to be on the safer side.
• Liver transplant surgery
  Here the diseased liver is replaced with an optimally functioning liver from a donor. Liver transplant surgery is recommended for a small percentage of live cancer patients with early-stage disease.

Localised treatments

Localised treatments for liver cancer are introduced directly into the cancer cells or the surrounding area. For liver cancer, localised treatment options include:

• Radiofrequency ablation
  This treatment modality uses electric current to heat and damage the cancer cells. The doctor introduces a few thin needles through small abdominal incisions, guided by an ultrasound. An electric current is inserted through the needles to heat and damage the cancer cells on reaching the tumour cells.
• Cryotherapy
  Cryotherapy or cryoablation uses extremely cold temperatures to damage the cancer cells. An instrument called a cryoprobe carrying liquid nitrogen is directly inserted into the liver tumour using ultrasound images. The tumour cells are, therefore, subjected to freezing temperatures and destroyed.
• Injecting the tumour with alcohol
  Pure alcohol is injected into the tumour, either during an operation or via the skin. Alcohol tends to destroy the tumour cells.
• Chemotherapy
  Certain anticancer drugs are injected into the liver that damage the cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy
  During this therapy, high energy rays such as X-rays and proton rays are used to shrink and destroy the tumour cells, while the healthy tissues are spared. Radiotherapy is considered when other modes of treatment fail or the patient is not fit for undergoing them. It helps control symptoms of advanced liver cancer.
• Stereotactic radiotherapy
  It is a specialised type of radiotherapy that involves focusing many radiation beams simultaneously at one point of the body.
• Targeted drug therapy
  This therapy targets specific abnormalities within the cancer cells, thereby destroying them.
• Immunotherapy
  This therapy stimulates the immune system to fight against cancer cells. Certain cancer cells produce proteins that hide them from the immune system, thus protecting them. Immunotherapy interferes with that process, therefore, causing the destruction of the cancer cells. This treatment modality is generally used in patients with advanced liver cancer.
• Chemotherapy
  This therapy uses certain drugs to destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs can be administered intravenously or taken orally. It is also used in the treatment of advanced liver cancer.

Palliative care is specialised medical care that aims to provide relief from pain and alleviate other cancer symptoms. Our palliative care specialists work closely with you and your family to provide extra support and care to complement your ongoing treatment, therefore, rendering the best Liver Cancer treatment in Navi Mumbai. Using palliative care with all the other forms of appropriate treatments helps people with cancer feel better and live longer. Our palliative care team includes best liver cancer treatment doctors in Navi Mumbai, expert nurses, and other specially trained professionals to deal with cancer patients. Our top priority always remains to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and their families.