ALL ABOUT LIVER CANCER

1. ALL ABOUT LIVER CANCER Cancer beginning in the liver, which is the largest internal organ of the body, is referred to as liver cancer. In the first stage, it is stated as primary liver cancer. However, there are other types and subtypes as well, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, bile duct cancer, angiosarcoma hepatoblastoma, Hemangioma, Hepatic adenoma, and Focal nodular hyperplasia. Although it can be diagnosed at both primary or metastatic stages, most liver cancer cases account for the second type. and hemangiosarcoma, Causes of liver cancer: Liver cancer can be triggered due to a number of causes, but the most important one is chronic infection from Hepatitis B virus or Hepatitis C virus. These types of infections cause cirrhosis, which ultimately acts as the main cause of making the liver cancerous. Other than that, inherited liver diseases like diabetes, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease, and exposure to aflatoxins also contribute to the risk factors. Last but not least, excessive consumption of alcohol has a significant role to play here. Usually, in the early stages of liver cancer, there are little to zero symptoms, but patients may experience: ADVERTISING •gastrointestinal problems like bloating, nausea, or vomiting •loss of appetite and fatigue •weight loss •yellow skin and eyes •pain in the abdominal area Usually, imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs are useful in detecting liver cancer, but a biopsy is required in some cases. Treatment procedures for liver cancer •Surgery: Liver transplant or surgical resection of the tumor is one of the most commonly approached treatment options. Partial hysterectomy and liver transplant have their own risk factors like bleeding or infection, but the pros and cons will be measured before opting for it.

2. •Ablation: It is the process by which tumors in the liver are destroyed without removing them. Usually, it works fine for a few small tumors, but it is not a suitable option when you can simply go for surgery. •Embolization: By this process, substances are directly injected into the artery of the liver so that the blood flow to the tumor is reduced or stopped. •Radiation Therapy: Using high energy rays, the cancer cells are destroyed in the body by this method. It can only be helpful if surgery, embolization, and ablation are not an option anymore. Metastatic liver cancer cases can also be treated by this. •Chemotherapy: Even though chemo drugs aren't that effective in liver cancer, it is still an option if combination drugs are prescribed. Before we proceed, chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill the cancer cells in the body. Following are well-known chemo drugs that are used in the case of liver cancer: 1.Gemcitabine: It is a cytotoxic chemotherapy drug that is given to the patients with Docetaxel. The drug is classified as an anti-metabolite. 2.Oxaliplatin: It is a chemo drug that has shown significant results in liver cancer cases caused by hepatic metastases. It is prescribed with other anti- cancer medications like Fluorouracil. This is a platinum-based compound, so patients allergic to platinum cannot be given this drug. 3.Cisplatin: Cisplatin 50 mg is used in the hepatic arterial infusion. It can also be given to patients who aren't eligible for surgery any longer. 4.Fluorouracil: Also classified as an anti-metabolite, this medicine comes in two forms-Fluorouracil injection and Fluorouracil cream. 5.Capecitabine: Capecitabine 500 mg is an anti-metabolite that gets converted to Fluorouracil upon reaching the bloodstream. Its main function is to stop the cancer cells from forming DNA and thus destroying them. •Targeted therapy: Another popular form of liver cancer therapy is targeted therapy. The mechanism is different from standard chemotherapy drugs. They enter the bloodstream and start targeting the cancer cells with abnormal protein expressions or genetic mutations. The common targeted therapy drugs for liver cancer are: 1.Lenvatinib- It is prescribed as a first-line treatment for liver cancer, precisely hepatocellular carcinoma that cannot be dealt with surgery. It is an oral anti-angiogenic drug that is known to target the blood vessels of the cancer cells to destroy them. The popular dosage strengths are Lenvatinib 4mg and Lenvatinib 10 mg. Follow the doctor's prescription during consumption.

3. 2.Sorafenib- This targeted drug is known to have improved the survival rate in patients with advanced HCC. It has been classified as a Kinase inhibitor that inhibits the tumor cells proliferation process through their angiogenic activities. Sorafenib 200 mg can block the action of abnormal proteins on the cancer cells and kills them. 3.Regorafenib: It is also a multikinase inhibitor that targets the VEGFR-TIE2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor for destroying the cancer cells. Regorafenib 40 mg is given to advanced liver cancer patients who are unable to opt for surgery and have already had a Sorafenib therapy. •Immunotherapy: It is the use of drugs to make the body's immune system recognize the cancer cells and attack them. The drugs are also known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, PD-1 & PD-L1 inhibitors, and CTLA-4 inhibitors. •Atezolizumab- By targeting the PD-L1 protein, Atezolizumab 60mg gives a boost to the immune system to act against the cancer cells and slow down their growth. It is given as an intravenous infusion once every 2, 3, or 4 weeks, depending on the extent of the disease. Final words Liver cancer is twice as much likely to occur in men than women. It has the best chances of being cured if detected at the initial stages. In fact, the survival rate for local and regional cases is 33% and 11%, respectively, while in the advanced stages, it's 2%. Depending on the type of cancer, it can spread rapidly. Patients are encouraged not to avoid the symptoms and get a medical checkup if they are consistent. The side effects of these forms of treatment are also not to prolong and may disappear after a while. However, if they persist, it is better to inform the doctor so that he can reduce the dosage or stagger the treatment. This is indeed one of the dangerous forms of cancer which must be treated soon after its detection. Source:- http://ikrispharma.over-blog.com/liver-cancer-and-its-treatment.html