Liver Cancer

The most common symptoms of liver cancer include:

• Abdominal distension
• Unintentional loss of weight
• Upper abdominal pain
• General weakness and fatigue
• Yellowish discoloration of eyes and skin
• White chalky stools.

Who is most likely to get liver cancer?

Patients who have liver cirrhosis due to any reason are most susceptible to develop liver cancer.

The following steps should be taken if you are keen to prevent liver cancer:

• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink. For women, this means no more than one drink a day. For men, this means no more than two drinks a day.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by choosing a healthy diet and exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, reduce the number of calories you eat each day and increase the amount of exercise you do. Aim to lose weight slowly — 1 or 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) each week.
• Get vaccinated against hepatitis B: You can reduce your risk of hepatitis B by receiving the hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine can be given to almost anyone, including infants, older adults and those with compromised immune systems. No vaccine for hepatitis C exists.
• Seek treatment for hepatitis B or C infection: Simple treatments are available for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections. Research shows that treatment can reduce the risk of liver cancer.
• Ask your doctor about liver cancer screening: For the general population, screening for liver cancer hasn’t been proved to reduce the risk of dying of liver cancer, and it isn’t generally recommended. People with conditions that increase the risk of liver cancer might consider screening, such as people who have Hepatitis B infection, Hepatitis C infection and liver cirrhosis. Screening typically involves a blood test and an abdominal ultrasound exam every six months.
• Know the health status of any sexual partner. Don’t engage in unprotected sex unless you’re certain your partner isn’t infected with HBV, HCV or any other sexually transmitted infection. If you don’t know the health status of your partner, use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse.
• Don’t use intravenous (IV) drugs, but if you do, use a clean needle. Reduce your risk of HCV by not injecting illegal drugs. Make sure any needle you use is sterile, and don’t share it. Contaminated drug paraphernalia is a common cause of hepatitis C infection.
• Seek safe, clean shops when getting a piercing or tattoo. Needles that may not be properly sterilized can spread the hepatitis C virus. Before getting a piercing or tattoo, check out the shop and ask staff members about their safety practices.