Posts Tagged ‘Specific Types of Cancer’
Signs of Primary Liver Cancer in Adults
Having hepatitis or cirrhosis can affect the risk of primary liver cancer in adults.
Anything that increases the risk of a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will suffer from cancer have no risk factors does not mean they do not suffer from cancer. People who think they are at risk should discuss this with your doctor. Possible risk factors for primary liver cancer in adults are:
* Having hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
* Having a close relative with both hepatitis and liver cancer.
* Suffering from cirrhosis.
* Eating food contaminated with aflatoxin (poison from a fungus that can grow in foods such as grains and nuts, which are not stored properly).
Possible signs of primary liver cancer in adults include a lump or pain on the right side.
These symptoms may be caused by swelling of the liver. These and other symptoms may be caused by primary liver cancer in adults or other conditions. Call your doctor if any of the following problems:
* A hard mass in the right hand side just below the rib cage.
* Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right.
* Pain around the right shoulder blade.
* Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
* Unusual tiredness.
* Nausea.
* Loss of appetite.
To detect (find) and diagnose primary liver cancer in adults, tests are used to examine the liver and the blood.
You can use the following tests and procedures:
* Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general health and identify any signs of illness such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. Also recorded data on patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments.
* Serum tumor marker test: A procedure which checks a blood sample to measure the amounts of certain substances released into it by the organs, tissues or tumor cells of the body. Certain substances are linked to specific types of cancer when found in high concentrations in the blood. These are called tumor markers. An increase in the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood may be a sign of liver cancer. Other cancers and certain noncancerous conditions, such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, may also increase AFP levels.
* Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood and checked for the following:
o The number of red cells, white cells and platelets.
o The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in red blood cells.
or that portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
* Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure to study the organs inside the abdomen to detect signs of disease. Incisions (cuts) are small in the abdominal wall and a laparoscope (a thin, lighted tube) in one of the incisions. It may introduce other instruments through the same or other incisions to perform procedures such as removing organs or taking tissue samples for biopsy.
* Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissue for a pathologist to observe in the microscope to check for signs of cancer. The sample can be taken with a fine needle is inserted into the liver during an x-ray or ultrasound. This is called a biopsy, fine needle aspiration (FNA). The biopsy can be performed during periscope.
* CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to a x-ray machine May be injected or given to drink a dye to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography or CT scan.
* MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves and a computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
* Ultrasound: A procedure in which sound waves are bounced high energy in internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. The picture can be printed and watch later.