Liver Cancer Essay
Liver cancer is a disease which begins in the cells of your liver. There are different forms of liver cancer. There is 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. Most liver cancer is secondary or metastatic, which means it started elsewhere in the body. The most common form of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). The other type is cholangiocellular carcinoma, which develops in the bile duct. Also, other types of cells in the liver can develop cancer, but they are much less common. It’s not exactly clear what liver cancer is caused by, but chronic infection with certain hepatitis viruses can cause
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liver cancer.
Liver cancer is a infectious disease and it can develop after many years of infection with the viruses. Liver cancer is treated, but only if it is found in the early stages, before it has spread. There are different types of treatments for liver cancer. Even though it can’t be cured, it can certainly be treated. There are different vaccines and it is recommended that all children, as well as adults at risk should get these vaccines to reduce their risk of hepatitis and liver cancer.
Many people don’t have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer.
Some of the later symptoms include losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, general weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice), and white chalky stools. Few of the other symptoms could also include fever, enlarged veins on the belly that can be seen through the skin, and abnormal bruising or bleeding. Liver cancer is not necessarily painful because there are no nerve endings in the liver itself. Some people do have pain because the liver has got bigger and stretched its covering. The tumor can cause pain also by pressing against nerves and other organs. Also, therapies for liver cancer may cause discomfort. People can also die from liver cancer.
There is no evidence of how liver cancer is caused, but in some cases the cause is known. For instance, chronic infection with certain hepatitis viruses can cause liver cancer. Also, Liver cancer occurs when liver cells develop changes in their DNA. A individual can get vaccines to help prevent HBV infection, which has been available since 1980s. Another factor which plays an important role in developing liver cancer is drinking alcohol. Heavy drinking affects the liver in a negative way and can cause fatty liver or alcoholic …show more content…
hepatitis.
Also, maintaining a healthy weight is very important. Children and even adults should get vaccinated against hepatitis B which provides more than 90 percent protection. Since there are no vaccines for Hepatitis C. But an individual could still take some measures to prevent some risk of infection. It is very important to know the health status of any sexual partner, don't use intravenous (IV) drugs, but if you do, use a clean needle, and seek safe clean shops when getting a piercing or tattoo. People can take these preventions to avoid getting liver cancer.
In the U.S. most liver cancer is metastatic;only about 1 percent actually originates in the liver. In southeast Asia and sub-Sahara Africa, primary liver cancer is the second most common type, accounting for as much as 30 percent of all cancers. In the United States most cancers arise in people fifty years or older;in other areas, people older than forty are at risk.
Liver cancer incidences have tripled since 1980. However, rates in young adults have recently begun to decline. In most cases liver cancer death rates have been increasing since 1980; from 2003 to 2012, rates increased by 2.7% per year. Also, liver cancer is seen more often in men than women. Worldwide statistics show that liver cancer is largely a problem of the less developed regions where 83% (50% in China alone) of the estimated 782,000 new cancer cases worldwide occurred in 2012. Liver cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, estimated to be responsible for nearly 746,000 deaths in 2012 (9.1% of the total). In the United States the American Cancer Society’s estimates for primary liver cancer is about 39,230 new cases (28,410 in men and 10,820 in women) will be diagnosed and about 27,170 people (18,280 men and 8,890 women) will die of these cancers. In Oregon the data of liver cancer is 12.82 compared to the United States death rate of liver cancer is about 10.43. Linn county is ranked 18 and the death rate is 11.74.
A leading risk factor in the U.S. and Europe is cirrhosis, a scarring of liver tissue by viruses, toxins, or interrupted blood flow. In Africa and South Asia, the viruses; hepatitis B and C are the leading precancerous diseases because hepatitis has long been endemic in those areas, whereas in the United States it is not widespread.
Research is being done on preventing liver cancer. Cancer of the liver is very difficult to treat. Because it is not easily detected, the diagnosis is rarely early. There are only few effective ways to prevent liver cancer. There is always a great deal of research being done. Scientists are always looking for ways to prevent liver cancer and doctors are working on to improve treatment. Research is being done on ways to prevent or treat hepatitis C before it causes liver cancer. Also, research is being done on coming up with better vaccines and treatment which could then prevent many cases of liver cancer worldwide. Other types of research is being done regarding new blood tests to see if they can detect liver cancer earlier than the tests used now. Newer techniques are being developed to make both partial hepatectomy and liver transplants safer and more effective.
If I could do anything to help out with this disease I would have the vaccines required for all children and even adults so that they have a lesser chance of getting liver cancer. For adults after a certain age, I would require them to get a blood test which can then reveal liver function abnormalities. Also, I would have more studies done on hepatitis C because there is no vaccine for it. Having another vaccine could help reduce the chance of developing liver cancer.
I have learned a lot more about liver cancer. I used to think that liver cancer was caused by drinking a lot of alcohol, but that is not the only reason how liver cancer is caused. Even though drinking lots of alcohol can damage the cells of the liver, causing a disease called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can make you more likely to develop liver cancer. Other factors are liver cancer tends to occur in livers damaged by birth defects, alcohol abuse, or chronic infection with diseases such as hepatitis B and C and cirrhosis.
Also, worldwide the most common risk factor for liver cancer is chronic (long-term) infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). These viruses play a major role in developing liver cancer which, I didn’t really know about. Hepatitis A can spread through food or water. Food can be tainted when it's touched by a person with hepatitis who did not wash his hands after using the bathroom. Unlike Hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure). Hepatitis A usually occurs in developing countries, but it is preventable with vaccines.
On the other hand, hepatitis B could spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. In the U.S., it's most often spread through unprotected sex. It cannot be cleared from the body when it is caused. Nearly 90% of infants who get the virus will carry it for life. Over time, hepatitis B can lead to serious problems, such as liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. Just like hepatitis A hepatitis B is preventable with vaccines.
Another form of virus is hepatitis C which is spread through infected blood. In the U.S., sharing needles or other items used to inject drugs is the most common cause of infection. About 25% of people who get hepatitis C defeat the virus after a short-term infection. Those who have it for a long term can get liver cancer or liver failure. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C and research being done on this for the past 20 years. These virus play a huge role on how liver cancer can develop. Not only did I learn about how these viruses play a role in leading to liver cancer, but I also got to learn a lot more about these three different viruses.
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body and it plays a very important role.
The liver processes nutrients from food, makes bile, removes toxins from the body and builds proteins. It is very important to keep the liver healthy because it performs many jobs such as it sends nutrients and vitamins into the bloodstream. Also, to avoid getting liver cancer, it would be important to not drink excessive amount of alcohol. Another factor which plays a role in keeping the liver healthy is by exercising regularly and eating a well balanced diet. The liver is one of the most important organs in the body, therefore it would be better to take care of it because it performs the daily activities in the
body.
Regarding this disease, the precautions I am going to take are to not drink alcohol and also be sanitary when it comes to the different hepatitis virus. Also, trying to exercise daily and eating a well balanced diet. Drinking water is very important too, because the liver will then remove all the toxins.
In short, the liver is a vital organ in the body and it would be very important to keep the liver healthy and in a good condition. Drinking alcohol plays a major role in affecting the liver, therefore it is very important to avoid drinking excessive amount of alcohol and also trying to limit how much you drink.
liver cancer.
Liver cancer is a infectious disease and it can develop after many years of infection with the viruses. Liver cancer is treated, but only if it is found in the early stages, before it has spread. There are different types of treatments for liver cancer. Even though it can’t be cured, it can certainly be treated. There are different vaccines and it is recommended that all children, as well as adults at risk should get these vaccines to reduce their risk of hepatitis and liver cancer.
Many people don’t have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer.
Some of the later symptoms include losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, general weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice), and white chalky stools. Few of the other symptoms could also include fever, enlarged veins on the belly that can be seen through the skin, and abnormal bruising or bleeding. Liver cancer is not necessarily painful because there are no nerve endings in the liver itself. Some people do have pain because the liver has got bigger and stretched its covering. The tumor can cause pain also by pressing against nerves and other organs. Also, therapies for liver cancer may cause discomfort. People can also die from liver cancer.
There is no evidence of how liver cancer is caused, but in some cases the cause is known. For instance, chronic infection with certain hepatitis viruses can cause liver cancer. Also, Liver cancer occurs when liver cells develop changes in their DNA. A individual can get vaccines to help prevent HBV infection, which has been available since 1980s. Another factor which plays an important role in developing liver cancer is drinking alcohol. Heavy drinking affects the liver in a negative way and can cause fatty liver or alcoholic …show more content…
hepatitis.
Also, maintaining a healthy weight is very important. Children and even adults should get vaccinated against hepatitis B which provides more than 90 percent protection. Since there are no vaccines for Hepatitis C. But an individual could still take some measures to prevent some risk of infection. It is very important to know the health status of any sexual partner, don't use intravenous (IV) drugs, but if you do, use a clean needle, and seek safe clean shops when getting a piercing or tattoo. People can take these preventions to avoid getting liver cancer.
In the U.S. most liver cancer is metastatic;only about 1 percent actually originates in the liver. In southeast Asia and sub-Sahara Africa, primary liver cancer is the second most common type, accounting for as much as 30 percent of all cancers. In the United States most cancers arise in people fifty years or older;in other areas, people older than forty are at risk.
Liver cancer incidences have tripled since 1980. However, rates in young adults have recently begun to decline. In most cases liver cancer death rates have been increasing since 1980; from 2003 to 2012, rates increased by 2.7% per year. Also, liver cancer is seen more often in men than women. Worldwide statistics show that liver cancer is largely a problem of the less developed regions where 83% (50% in China alone) of the estimated 782,000 new cancer cases worldwide occurred in 2012. Liver cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, estimated to be responsible for nearly 746,000 deaths in 2012 (9.1% of the total). In the United States the American Cancer Society’s estimates for primary liver cancer is about 39,230 new cases (28,410 in men and 10,820 in women) will be diagnosed and about 27,170 people (18,280 men and 8,890 women) will die of these cancers. In Oregon the data of liver cancer is 12.82 compared to the United States death rate of liver cancer is about 10.43. Linn county is ranked 18 and the death rate is 11.74.
A leading risk factor in the U.S. and Europe is cirrhosis, a scarring of liver tissue by viruses, toxins, or interrupted blood flow. In Africa and South Asia, the viruses; hepatitis B and C are the leading precancerous diseases because hepatitis has long been endemic in those areas, whereas in the United States it is not widespread.
Research is being done on preventing liver cancer. Cancer of the liver is very difficult to treat. Because it is not easily detected, the diagnosis is rarely early. There are only few effective ways to prevent liver cancer. There is always a great deal of research being done. Scientists are always looking for ways to prevent liver cancer and doctors are working on to improve treatment. Research is being done on ways to prevent or treat hepatitis C before it causes liver cancer. Also, research is being done on coming up with better vaccines and treatment which could then prevent many cases of liver cancer worldwide. Other types of research is being done regarding new blood tests to see if they can detect liver cancer earlier than the tests used now. Newer techniques are being developed to make both partial hepatectomy and liver transplants safer and more effective.
If I could do anything to help out with this disease I would have the vaccines required for all children and even adults so that they have a lesser chance of getting liver cancer. For adults after a certain age, I would require them to get a blood test which can then reveal liver function abnormalities. Also, I would have more studies done on hepatitis C because there is no vaccine for it. Having another vaccine could help reduce the chance of developing liver cancer.
I have learned a lot more about liver cancer. I used to think that liver cancer was caused by drinking a lot of alcohol, but that is not the only reason how liver cancer is caused. Even though drinking lots of alcohol can damage the cells of the liver, causing a disease called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can make you more likely to develop liver cancer. Other factors are liver cancer tends to occur in livers damaged by birth defects, alcohol abuse, or chronic infection with diseases such as hepatitis B and C and cirrhosis.
Also, worldwide the most common risk factor for liver cancer is chronic (long-term) infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). These viruses play a major role in developing liver cancer which, I didn’t really know about. Hepatitis A can spread through food or water. Food can be tainted when it's touched by a person with hepatitis who did not wash his hands after using the bathroom. Unlike Hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure). Hepatitis A usually occurs in developing countries, but it is preventable with vaccines.
On the other hand, hepatitis B could spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. In the U.S., it's most often spread through unprotected sex. It cannot be cleared from the body when it is caused. Nearly 90% of infants who get the virus will carry it for life. Over time, hepatitis B can lead to serious problems, such as liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. Just like hepatitis A hepatitis B is preventable with vaccines.
Another form of virus is hepatitis C which is spread through infected blood. In the U.S., sharing needles or other items used to inject drugs is the most common cause of infection. About 25% of people who get hepatitis C defeat the virus after a short-term infection. Those who have it for a long term can get liver cancer or liver failure. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C and research being done on this for the past 20 years. These virus play a huge role on how liver cancer can develop. Not only did I learn about how these viruses play a role in leading to liver cancer, but I also got to learn a lot more about these three different viruses.
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body and it plays a very important role.
The liver processes nutrients from food, makes bile, removes toxins from the body and builds proteins. It is very important to keep the liver healthy because it performs many jobs such as it sends nutrients and vitamins into the bloodstream. Also, to avoid getting liver cancer, it would be important to not drink excessive amount of alcohol. Another factor which plays a role in keeping the liver healthy is by exercising regularly and eating a well balanced diet. The liver is one of the most important organs in the body, therefore it would be better to take care of it because it performs the daily activities in the
body.
Regarding this disease, the precautions I am going to take are to not drink alcohol and also be sanitary when it comes to the different hepatitis virus. Also, trying to exercise daily and eating a well balanced diet. Drinking water is very important too, because the liver will then remove all the toxins.
In short, the liver is a vital organ in the body and it would be very important to keep the liver healthy and in a good condition. Drinking alcohol plays a major role in affecting the liver, therefore it is very important to avoid drinking excessive amount of alcohol and also trying to limit how much you drink.