Hepatic is a term used by medical professionals for issues related to the liver. Therefore, hepatic cancer is another name for liver cancer. Hepatic cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer.
The causes of most cases of hepatic cancer are unknown, but some cases appear to be connected other liver problems such as hepatitis. Interestingly, hepatic cancer often doesn't start in the liver. It spreads to the liver from other diseased organs through a process known as metastasis. But there are four different kinds of primary hepatic cancer, or cancer that starts in the liver itself.
Hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins with the hepatocytes, the main type of liver cells. This form of hepatic cancer is often referred to by its initials: HCC.
Cholangiocarcinoma is another type. Cholangiocarcinoma originates in tiny bile ducts inside the liver. This type is also known as bile duct cancer.
Hepatoblastoma is a rare form that strikes children less than 4 years of age. Although the diagnosis is often frightening to parents, hepatoblastoma can usually be treated successfully.
The fourth type of primary hepatic cancer is angiosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma, a rare type that starts in the liver's blood vessels.
There are usually no symptoms of hepatic cancer in the early stages of the disease. But in the later stages, the following symptoms are likely to appear.
pain in the upper abdomen, possibly accompanied by swelling in the area
tiring easily and a general feeling of weakness
lack of desire to eat along with a noticeable weight loss
nausea and vomiting
Jaundice may also appear. Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes begin to look yellow. This disorder is sometimes called yellow jaundice. The liver is also likely to become enlarged.
To treat hepatic cancer, the doctor must determine the stage the disease has reached. Age and general state of health are also important. Eliminating the cancer completely will be a priority. If this is impractical, the goal then becomes limiting its growth and keeping it from spreading. The doctor will also look for ways to relieve pain and discomfort caused by symptoms.
Treatment options include surgery, with the goal of removing the diseased section of the liver. This is usually done when liver function is still good, the tumor is small, and cancerous cells haven't spread to nearby tissues or organs. This type of operation is known as a partial hepatectomy.
A liver transplant is also an option. In this procedure, the diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor.
Another treatment option involves killing cancer cells with extreme cold or heat. This is a relatively recent technological advance.
Alcohol injection is another recent development in the treatment of cancer. This procedure is done by injecting pure alcohol directly into a tumor. This may dry out the cancer cells and eventually kill them.
Targeted drug therapy can be used to limit the tumor's ability to generate blood vessels. This is another promising recent advance and more research is necessary.
Of course, there's also radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Most people are familiar with these forms of treatment. Both of these treatment options, unfortunately, can have serious side effects.
Hepatic cancer strikes nearly 25,000 individuals each year in the United States alone. The disease results in approximately 18,000 deaths. Hepatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men, and ninth among women. As with all other forms of cancer, early detection offers the most hope for long term survival.
