Primary liver cancer is currently the fourth common malignant tumor and the second cause of death in mainland China, seriously affecting the life and health of mainland people.
Why is the liver so important in the human body?
The liver, the largest substantial organ in the human body, is located in the upper abdomen, mostly on the right side and a small part on the left side.
The liver performs important and complex physiological functions:
1. Secretion of bile: the liver secretes 500-1000ml of bile per day, which flows into the gallbladder for storage, and when necessary, the gallbladder drains bile through the common bile duct into the duodenum to help digest food and vitamin absorption;
2. Metabolic function: After the food eaten by humans is digested, the nutrients are absorbed through the intestine and flow into the liver through the portal vein for processing, and proteins and fats are processed into glycogen and stored in the liver; When needed, the liver breaks down glycogen into glucose for the body to use.
3. Coagulation function
4. Detoxification
5. Immune function
2. What are the causes of liver cancer?
The vast majority of liver cancer patients in mainland China are caused by hepatitis B and C leading to cirrhosis, and eventually form liver cancer; There is also long-term heavy drinking and other reasons.
3. What are the manifestations of cirrhosis?
There are no obvious symptoms in early cirrhosis, and the following symptoms in intermediate and advanced cirrhosis:
1. Splenomegaly: it can cause thrombocytopenia, leukocytes and red blood cells, resulting in easy bleeding, infection, anemia, etc.; The patient can palpate the enlarged spleen under the left upper abdominal costal margin;
2. Esophageal and gastric varices: can cause gastric bleeding, manifested as hematemesis or melena, hepatic coma and high mortality in patients with heavy bleeding;
3. Ascites: manifested as abdominal fullness, loss of appetite, lower limb puffiness, etc
4. Jaundice: yellowing of the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes), dark urine, can be soy sauce color
Why is liver cancer so frightening?
1. The progression of liver cancer is relatively insidious and there are no obvious symptoms in the early stage, and most liver cancers have advanced symptoms at the time of diagnosis, including epigastric mass, epigastric pain, abdominal distention, loss of appetite, fatigue, etc., and cannot be operated or treated;
2. Most liver cancer patients in mainland China have cirrhosis after hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and their liver function is relatively poor, which limits surgery and other treatments;
3. Some liver cancer patients have poor economic foundation, coupled with the misunderstanding of "liver cancer", and actively give up treatment.
V. How to prevent and detect liver cancer early?
Prevention and early detection of liver cancer are the key to improving the treatment effect of liver cancer.
1. Reduce or avoid the intake of carcinogenic foods such as moldy foods, barbecue foods, alcohol, etc., and promote healthy diet;
2. Hepatitis vaccination to reduce the incidence of hepatitis;
3. People with a family history of cancer, regular physical examination;
4. For patients with hepatitis or/or cirrhosis, standardize treatment, regular specialist outpatient follow-up monitoring, reduce or delay the occurrence of cirrhosis and liver cancer;
5. For people suspected of liver cancer, timely hospital visits can first undergo liver ultrasound examination and alpha-fetoprotein and CA199 detection, and if necessary, liver enhanced CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination.
6. How to treat liver cancer?
1. Surgical treatment: surgical treatment is the core means of liver cancer, including traditional open surgery and minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic surgery), minimally invasive surgery has less trauma, less pain and fast recovery;
2. Ablation: Ablation is to insert the ablation electrode into the tumor through skin puncture for physical therapy under ultrasound positioning, or inject anhydrous alcohol into it, which is suitable for tumors less than 3cm;
3. Interventional therapy
4. Drug treatment: including targeted drugs such as lenvatinib and immune drugs such as PD-1; There is also Chinese medicine
5. Liver transplantation
6. Others: radiotherapy, etc
Special instructions: medical science, for reference only, please seek medical attention in time if you have any questions.
I wish you good health and always smile!