The liver is an important organ of the body, responsible for many functions such as eliminating toxins, producing bile, storing vitamins and minerals, metabolizing substances, synthesizing blood clotting factors, albumin…
Liver cancer is a condition in which liver cells develop abnormally, often due to DNA mutations in the body, forming malignant tumors, hindering the normal functioning of this organ. Sometimes, malignant tumors in the liver develop from other diseases such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Doctor Thanh advises patients. Illustration photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
In the early stages, liver cancer often has no obvious symptoms, is difficult to detect, and is easily confused with other liver diseases. However, there are some symptoms that can suggest early stage liver cancer such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, drowsiness, chills, high fever, dark facial skin (due to metabolic function). liver melanin metabolism is impaired), pain in the right lower quadrant…
Signs such as loss of appetite, bloating, nausea… it is still impossible to determine exactly what disease you are suffering from. You should go to the hospital to be examined by a doctor. If cancer is suspected, the doctor will do additional related tests to evaluate and diagnose the disease.
If liver cancer is not detected and treated promptly, it will progress to a late stage. At this time, the symptoms are clear and more serious such as enlarged liver (palpable), right upper quadrant pain with increasing frequency and severity, itchy skin (increased bilirubin in the blood), jaundice, yellow eyes, dark urine, rapid weight loss of unknown cause…
Everyone should have regular health check-ups and cancer screenings. In the early stages, liver cancer often has no obvious signs, so most people pay little attention. People with high risk factors such as cirrhosis, chronic alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis B and C… should be screened with abdominal ultrasound at least every 6 months.
When liver cancer is suspected, the doctor prescribes additional clinical tests to confirm the diagnosis such as blood tests (AFP, AFP-L3, PIVKA-II), abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging. abdominal area, liver biopsy… Regular liver cancer screening is an effective way to help doctors detect the disease at an early stage, thereby improving treatment effectiveness and improving quality of life.