Treatment of Liver Cancer Ankara

Cancers that occur due to many factors, such as genetic factors, eating habits, and harmful substance use, have a success rate when detected in the early stages. Liver cancer, which is one click less common in Turkey compared to other types of cancer, is a type of cancer that occurs related to the liver's own cells. In this article, where the symptoms, causes and treatment options of liver cancer, which have different types, are discussed, what is liver cancer, when is it noticeable, who are the people at risk of liver cancer, you will also be able to find answers to many questions, and Dr. You will be able to clearly see Meral Sözen's approaches to liver cancer.

What is Liver Cancer?

Located on the right side of the abdominal cavity, just below the diaphragm and just above the stomach, our liver is the organ responsible for producing bile secretion, activating some vitamins and removing harmful substances from the body by eliminating poisonings. The liver, which stores excess sugar and starch, also plays an important role in providing immunity against infection.

Although the liver is a self-renewing organ, due to many factors, the scar tissue may gradually increase and liver function disorders may occur. Due to the progression of the disease, the actively working liver cell decreases, the liver hardens, and this leads to the formation of resistance to blood. When the blood that increases the intravascular pressure in the areas where the blood comes from looks for other ways, the liver functions gradually deteriorate and the basis for liver cancer is prepared. Liver cancer, of which there are several types, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma, is a cancer with many signs and symptoms.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

Although there are few symptoms in the early stages of the liver, a number of signs may occur in later cases.

Especially for weight loss,

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• State of fatigue
• Excessive swelling of the abdomen
• Upper abdominal pains
• Yellowing of the eye white condition

White or lime-like Decantationcan be considered among the symptoms that indicate liver cancer.

What Are the Causes of Liver Cancer?

Among the factors that lead to cancer in cases of liver cancer that are often observed in Turkey, aflatoxin exposure can be Deciphered as changes in liver function caused by previous chronic infections. For example, Hepatitis.

When changes and mutations occur in the DNA of liver cells, we can face liver cancer. As a result of the fact that cells begin to grow out of control and accumulate, their tumor formation leads to the appearance of liver cancer.

What Are the Risk Factors for Liver Cancer?

Below you can find factors that increase the risk of primary liver cancer.

Chronic Infection With HBV Or HCV

A chronic infection condition with hepatitis B and C viruses will increase the risk of liver cancer.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis, which causes the formation of liver scar tissue, is a disease that can prepare the ground for liver cancer.

Certain Hereditary Liver Diseases

Wilson's disease, which can be counted among the hereditary liver diseases, can be seen. Dec. At the same time, if there is a blood sugar disorder, the patient may face a high risk of liver cancer.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Liver cell destruction develops secondary to the accumulation of fat in the liver. In this case, it can prepare the ground for liver cancer.

Exposure to Aflatoxins

Poisons caused by molds that appear in crops stored under poor conditions are known as aflotoxins. This poison, which can be found in corn, peanuts and all foods made from this product, prepares the ground for liver cancer.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption, which leads to irreversible liver damage, can greatly increase the likelihood of developing cancer in the future.

How Is Liver Cancer Diagnosed?

A number of tests and procedures are required and examined by your doctor to diagnose liver cancer.

Blood Tests

Blood tests that can give results indicating abnormalities in liver function, although they do not directly indicate liver cancer, tell the doctor about things that are not going well.

Imaging Tests

Although imaging tests such as ultrasound, computed tomography ( CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also clearly reveal liver cancer, extra procedures can be resorted to for detailed examination.

Taking A Liver Tissue Sample For Examination

Your doctor, who wants to make a definitive diagnosis of liver cancer, can take a piece of your liver tissue for laboratory examination. To take this part, called a liver biopsy, the doctor takes the tissue from your skin by inserting a needle into your liver. Doctors who examine cancer cells examine the tissue that comes out of the needle under a microscope and come to a clear conclusion.

What Are the Stages of Liver Cancer?

The first step to be taken after the diagnosis of cancer is to determine the stage of cancer and, accordingly, create a treatment program. Because staging tests are already tests that show what stage cancers are at, liver cancer staging tests will also provide clear information about the cancer in your liver. After CT, MRI and bone scans, your doctor determines the clear stage of the cancer and evaluates treatment options with you.

For liver staging; various letters from A to D are used, and STAGE IV and STAGE D indicate that they have the worst prognosis.

What Are the Treatment Methods for Liver Cancer?

Treatment of liver cancer will vary depending on the spread of the disease, age and general health status.

Operation

Surgical interventions performed to treat liver cancer are called operations.  Cancer surgeries performed by doctors specializing in the field of surgical oncology can be varied as follows.

Surgery to remove the tumor may also involve a small part of the liver. However, your doctor will evaluate you in detail about whether the tumor should be removed and will be able to make a decision about it.
In cases where liver transplantation is appropriate, it is possible to get rid of liver cancer by removing the liver and transplanting a healthy liver.

Local Treatments

Local treatment for liver cancer is also a cancer treatment that is often used. There are many stages of local treatments called treatment applied to liver cells and the area surrounding their cells.

In a process referred to as radiofrequency ablation, electric current heats and destroys cancer cells. The oncology surgeon, who moves the needle through small incisions in your abdomen through ultrasound or CT scan to the tumor, heats it all with electric current and continues to destroy it.

In addition to the method of destroying cancer cells by heating, fighting cancer by freezing cancer cells is included in local treatment. In this method, called cryoblation, extreme cold is used to destroy cancer cells. Your doctor places the nitrogen-containing cryoprobe directly on top of the liver tumor and freezes it.

Another method is to inject alcohol into the tumor. In this method, which is based on injecting pure alcohol through the skin or during surgery, alcohol ensures that all tumors die.

Chemoembolization, which means the administration of chemotherapy drugs to the liver, is part of local treatments.
The placement of radiation-containing beads in the liver is also a common practice in local cancer treatment.

It Is Possible to Fight Liver Cancer With Radiation Therapy & Medication And Palliative Care

X-ray therapy and targeted drugs are a very useful method according to the stages of liver cancer. At the same time, it plays a big role in palliative care in the context of fighting cancer in terms of reducing pain and other complaints caused by cancer.

If you believe that you are also at risk of liver cancer, Dr. Together with Meral Sözen, you can perform the necessary examinations and get support in shaping your treatment according to the results. If there is a family history of liver cancer and there are symptoms of liver cancer, you should definitely not interfere with your doctor's control and you should determine the cause and treatment of your complaints, regardless of what they are.