Killer Cancers: Liver
And Let Live
Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
The
liver can be
characterised as the
largest organ within the
body. Located below the
right lung and under the
ribcage, the liver is
divided into two lobes.
Multiple types of
tumours can develop in
the liver because the
liver has rich blood
supply. Liver
cancer patients can be
divided into two types,
primary and secondary
(or metastatic).
“Primary liver cancer is
the result of liver
cells turning cancerous
usually from chronic
inflammation of the
liver,” explained
Dr Law Ngai Moh,
Gastroenterologist at
Raffles Internal
Medicine Centre.
“Therefore it is
commonly associated with
chronic hepatitis B and
C infection or heavy
alcohol consumption.
As early primary
liver cancer has no
signs and symptoms,
individuals with risk
factors mentioned
above should go for
regular liver blood
tests and scanning of
the liver, so that
early detection leading
to complete
cure is possible.”
“In contrast,” added Dr
Law, “secondary
liver cancer refers to
the spread of cancer
from other organs to the
liver. Usually,
in such cases, affected
individuals will
be in advanced stages of
cancer with
poor prognosis.
The only exception is
that of colorectal
cancer with limited
liver spread, whereby
removal of tumour
spread and the original
cancer in the
colon by surgery may
still be possible in
some patients.”
To protect yourself from
liver cancer, you can:
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Vaccinate yourself
from hepatitis B
|
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Avoid intravenous
(IV) drug use
(commonly associated
with the
transmission of
hepatitis C)
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Avoid alcohol abuse
(increases the risk
of cirrhosis)
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Take certain
medications to control hepatitis B or C infection,
decreasing the risk of liver cancer
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Screen for liver
cancer if you have
cirrhosis of the
liver or chronic
viral hepatitis |
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Risk Factors
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Chronic viral
hepatitis |
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Cirrhosis of the
liver, often caused
by excessive alcohol
consumption |
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Age and gender |
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Chemical exposure |
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Eating foods
contaminated with
the mould aflatoxin |
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Symptoms
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Pain at the top of
the abdominal area,
near the right
shoulder balde or in
the back |
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Unexplained weight
loss |
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Weaknesses or
fatigue |
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Hard lump under ribs
on the right side of
the body |
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Screening Tests
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Confirmed with a
biopsy |
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Sometimes confirmed
with blood or
imaging tests |
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Physical examination |
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Blood test for
elevated
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
levels |
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Ultrasound of the
abdomen |
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Computed tomography
(CT) scan |
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Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) |
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Angiogram |
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Laparoscopy |
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Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Dated: June 2011
|
Raffles
Medical
Group is
a leading
medical
group and
the largest
private
group
practice in
Singapore.
As a fully
integrated
healthcare
organisation,
the Group
owns and
operates a
network of
family
medicine
clinics, a
tertiary
care private
hospital,
insurance
services and
a consumer
healthcare
division.
Patients of
the Group
enjoy a
continuum of
care, from
having their
most basic
healthcare
needs met
through the
Group’s
islandwide
network of
Raffles
Medical
clinics, to
specialist
and tertiary
care at
Raffles
Hospital. |
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