Hepatobiliary Cancer

The liver continuously filters blood that circulates through the body, converting nutrients and drugs absorbed from the digestive tract into ready-to-use chemicals. The liver can be affected by primary liver cancer, which arises in the liver, or by cancer which forms in other parts of the body and then spreads to the liver.

SYMPTOMS OF HEPATOBILIARY CANCER

• Nausea & Vomiting
• Abdominal bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness & fatigue

Some other symptoms are swelling of the abdomen (fluid in the abdomen), upper abdominal pain, itching, passing white-coloured stools, etc.

RISK FACTORS OF HEPATOBILIARY CANCER

• Men are more likely to get hepatocellular carcinoma than women
• Obesity can increase the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma
• Studies have suggested a link between diabetes and liver cancer. This is likely due to the link between diabetes and fatty liver disease
• Diseases that disrupt the normal metabolism of the body have been shown to increase your risk of liver cancer
• Long-term alcohol use has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer. Regular, heavy alcohol use can damage the liver, leading to inflammation. This, in turn, might raise the risk of liver cancer
• Studies have found a link between liver cancer and some rare diseases like alpha -1-antitrypsin deficiency, tyrosinemia, and Wilson's disease, haemochromatosis
• Patients with known cirrhosis, chronic liver disease (Hepatitis B/C, ETOH related), chronic infection HBV, HCV
• Exposure to Aflatoxins

PRIMARY LIVER TUMOUR

May develop new symptoms like jaundice and mass or fluid tummy from solitary to multiple, from one side to another side, or diffuse involvement of the entire liver. It spreads to the lungs, bones, blood vessels and lymph nodes.

SECONDARY (METASTATIC) TUMOUR

Generally, Stage IV tumours can involve the liver. The site of origin could be GI tract or other organs (lung, thyroid, breast, biliary tract, and pancreas). Patients with chronic liver disease should undergo screening to detect tumours at an early stage.