Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, and the progression of liver cancer is very closely related to the patient himself. Early stage liver cancer, if not intervened, has a fast progression of 1 to 2 years of survival, or even shorter. The specific survival time also depends on various factors such as patient’s physical condition, tumor stage and treatment plan. Early-stage liver cancer is often difficult to detect, and once patients who can tolerate surgery are found and undergo radical surgery or liver transplantation, etc., the 5-year survival rate after surgery can be 40% to 70%, or even longer.
Hepatocellular carcinoma can be divided into primary and secondary hepatocellular carcinoma; the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma is currently unknown, but the risk factors that promote the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in China are mainly viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C), cirrhosis, alcohol, long-term consumption of moldy food (aflatoxin), pickled food (nitrite), etc.
Early liver cancer is asymptomatic and often difficult to detect, and when clinical symptoms appear, they are often mid- to late-stage. It can manifest as pain in the liver area, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, diarrhea, etc.
So early prevention is important. In addition to routine physical exams, we recommend abdominal ultrasound and serum fetoprotein every six months to a year for those at high risk.