Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor that grows on the liver. The onset of liver cancer is very insidious and patients do not easily notice it, and it is often discovered occasionally in the census. China is a high incidence area of liver cancer in the world, and the number of liver cancer deaths is about 240,000 per year, which is the second highest number of cancer deaths in China.
Who are more likely to get liver cancer?
Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, combined with China’s national conditions, has put forward the criteria for determining the high-risk group of liver cancer.
Hepatitis disease for more than 5 years.
People who are positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg).
People with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) >5.0 mcg/L.
Someone in the family has had liver cancer.
Age between 35 and 65 years old, of which, 45 years old or older for men and 55 years old or older for women is the high incidence age of liver cancer.
Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) is commonly known as the “AoA”. A person’s blood test result of “HbsAg positive” or “AoA positive” indicates that the person is infected with hepatitis B virus. A person who is positive for HbsAg is considered to be a carrier of the hepatitis B virus.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a substance on the surface of malignant tumor cells, and the amount of CEA in the blood will be significantly increased when some tumors occur.
Can liver cancer be detected early?
Attending regular checkups is an effective measure for early detection of liver cancer. There are two main methods of examination, namely blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test and liver ultrasonography.
Those who are suspected to have liver cancer should undergo the examination once every six months, and those who have normal results in both examinations should undergo another examination after six months, and those who still have political party results can extend the examination interval according to the doctor’s instruction.
Those who have abnormal results in one of the two tests, fetoprotein and liver ultrasound, should be rechecked again and have other tests as requested by the doctor.
If the ultrasound examination reveals clear liver cancer lesions and the AFP value is significantly higher, the diagnosis of liver cancer can be confirmed. At this time, you need to receive timely and active standardized treatment.
What are the manifestations of liver cancer patients?
There may be continuous or intermittent pain in the middle right side of the upper abdomen (liver area). Sometimes the pain may be aggravated by the change of body posture and may radiate to the back or right shoulder.
There is often a feeling of stuffiness in the upper abdomen, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
There is a gradual loss of weight and general weakness.
There may be unexplained fever, usually low fever (body temperature 37.5 to 38°C), occasionally reaching 39°C or more.
There may be yellowing of the skin (note the palms of the hands) or the white part of the eyes (jaundice), and pruritus of the skin.
There may be nasal bleeding and subcutaneous bleeding.
It is necessary to go to hospital for examination in time when the above manifestations occur.
What is the preferred method for liver cancer treatment?
Surgical resection is the first choice for liver cancer treatment. If early stage liver cancer patients are treated by surgical resection and combined with active comprehensive treatment (such as radiotherapy, immunotherapy, Chinese medicine treatment, etc.), the 5-year survival rate can be over 36%.
How to minimize the possibility of getting liver cancer?
To avoid infection with hepatitis B virus (maintain good sexual habits; see a doctor in a regular hospital and do not use blood products casually; receive hepatitis B vaccination at the right time, especially for newborn children and teenagers) and actively treat hepatitis.
To eat fresh and dry stored food, do not eat moldy grain and peanuts, beans, etc., because these moldy foods may contain liver cancer-causing aflatoxin.
Do not drink water from contaminated ditches, rivers and ponds, try to drink tap water and groundwater, and pay attention to the disinfection and sterilization of drinking water.
Do not drink alcohol in excess. Long-term alcohol consumption can cause cirrhosis of the liver, and some patients with alcoholic cirrhosis can eventually develop into liver cancer.