The first sign of liver cancer usually appears in the abdomen, but many people regard it as a minor problem

In these busy times, people are often so busy with work and life that they are blind to the subtle signals sent by their bodies. In particular, the liver is a "silent organ", and its complaints are often overlooked.

Liver cancer, a term that sounds terrifying, has been quietly warned of in the early days. Unfortunately, many people miss out on the best time to treat these early signs as ordinary abdominal discomfort.

1. Potential markers of liver cancer: early signs of abdominal abnormalities

Have you ever had an inexplicable bloating in your abdomen after a meal, or feeling nauseous from time to time, but these symptoms come and go so quickly that you may just casually complain "maybe you have a bad stomach" and rush to the next job. However, these seemingly inconspicuous abdominal discomforts may be a distress signal from the liver.

The liver has a strong compensatory capacity, and even if only a quarter of the liver functions, it is enough to support daily life. This is one of the reasons why liver cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage.

However, when the tumor grows and begins to compress surrounding tissues or block blood flow in the liver, it can cause symptoms such as bloating and nausea. Therefore, when these "small problems" appear frequently, it is best not to take them lightly and go to the hospital for examination in time.

2. Current situation of liver cancer in China: the truth revealed by the data

In the mainland, the threat of liver cancer should not be underestimated. According to authoritative data, the number of new cases of liver cancer in China is as high as 410,000, accounting for nearly half of the global liver cancer incidence.

Behind this data, it is not only the coldness of the numbers, but also the portrayal of the joys and sorrows of countless families. The high incidence of liver cancer not only poses a huge threat to the patients themselves, but also brings a heavy burden to the family and even affects the stability and development of the society.

The reason why liver cancer is so high in mainland China is not only related to genetics, environment and other factors, but also related to the general lifestyle habits and weak awareness of disease prevention and control. Many people do not have enough knowledge about the maintenance of the liver, and even less are aware of the early symptoms of liver disease.

Therefore, behind these data is a wake-up call for each of us: we must pay attention to liver health and not take every signal sent by the body lightly.

3. The development path of liver cancer: from hepatitis to cirrhosis to liver cancer

The development of liver cancer is often not sudden, but traceable. In most cases, it goes through a long process: from hepatitis to cirrhosis and finally liver cancer.

Hepatitis is one of the important causes of liver cancer, especially hepatitis B and C viruses, which can lie dormant in the liver for many years and continuously attack liver cells, triggering chronic inflammation. Long-term inflammation can lead to ongoing damage and repair of liver cells, a process that may produce genetic mutations that increase the risk of liver cancer.

Cirrhosis is another precursor to liver cancer. At this stage, the liver's tissues begin to become fibrotic and lose their original elasticity and function. In patients with cirrhosis, the incidence of liver cancer is many times higher than in the normal population. In addition, cirrhosis can lead to a series of complications, such as ascites, esophageal varices, etc., which further exacerbate the patient's condition.

In the mainland, the infection rate of hepatitis virus is relatively high, which is inextricably linked to the high incidence of liver cancer in the mainland. According to studies, about 75% of liver cancer patients have a history of hepatitis B.

This means that regular monitoring of liver function, liver imaging tests, and measurement of liver stiffness are indispensable preventive measures for people with hepatitis B virus carriers.

4. The importance of liver cancer screening: early detection is the key

For liver cancer, early detection is undoubtedly the key to improving the success rate of treatment. However, due to the lack of obvious symptoms of early liver cancer, many patients have missed the best time for treatment when they are diagnosed.

In mainland China, 70% to 80% of liver cancer patients are in the middle and advanced stages at the time of diagnosis. This situation is not only related to the insidious nature of liver cancer, but also related to the lack of liver cancer screening in mainland China.

Screening for liver cancer includes serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing and abdominal ultrasound. AFP is a biomarker of liver cancer, and although not all patients with liver cancer will have elevated AFP levels, it is still an important marker. An abdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive, simple and low-cost screening test that can help doctors detect abnormal changes in the liver.

For high-risk groups, such as individuals with a history of hepatitis, cirrhosis, or a family history of liver cancer, screening should be more frequent. It is recommended that this group of people be screened every six months to a year to detect signs of liver cancer as early as possible.

For the general population over 40 years of age, it is also necessary to have an AFP and ultrasound examination once a year. Through these regular check-ups, the chances of early detection of liver cancer can be greatly improved, thereby increasing the success rate of treatment.

5. Liver cancer prevention strategies: lifestyle and early intervention

Prevention is better than cure, and the same applies to the prevention and treatment of liver cancer. In order to avoid the threat of liver cancer, lifestyle adjustment and early intervention are particularly important. Liver cancer is associated with a variety of factors, including viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and ingestion of foods containing aflatoxin. Therefore, the strategy for preventing liver cancer should be multi-pronged.

For viral hepatitis, timely vaccination, regular medication and regular follow-up are effective means to reduce infection and progression to liver cancer. In terms of diet, avoiding foods that may contain aflatoxin, such as moldy peanuts and corn, is an important measure to prevent liver cancer.

In addition, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising moderately, and limiting alcohol intake are seemingly simple lifestyle habits that have a profound impact on maintaining liver health.

Early intervention is also critical for the prevention of liver cancer. For patients with chronic hepatitis, regular liver function tests and liver imaging examinations can detect abnormal changes in the liver in time, so that corresponding treatment measures can be taken to prevent the condition from worsening.

For patients who already have cirrhosis, monitoring for possible complications, such as ascites, esophageal varices, etc., can not only improve quality of life, but also reduce the risk of liver cancer.

summary

Looking to the future, with the development of personalized medicine and precision medicine, liver cancer treatment will pay more attention to customizing the treatment plan according to the specific situation of the patient.

At the same time, with the deepening of people's understanding of liver cancer and the popularization of preventive measures, it is believed that in the near future, the incidence of liver cancer will be significantly reduced, and the survival rate and quality of life of patients will be significantly improved.