Early signs of liver cancer

Nowadays, liver cancer is no longer a rare disease in the community. This shows that the severity of cancer in general and liver cancer in particular is gradually becoming an "epidemic", with an increasingly serious prevalence.

However, the danger of this disease is not in the level of "destruction" of liver cells of malignant tumors, but in the way the tumor stage is always silently progressing, but for some reason the patient does not realize it. Therefore, most cases after detection are already in the severe stage, with a high level of danger and the ability to respond to specific drugs with regimens is almost no longer effective. Therefore, recognizing the signs of early stage liver cancer is extremely important. Because it will be effective in timely detection and treatment, when the body begins to show abnormal signs.

Mr. TMT, Tran Van Thoi town, has late-stage cancer and is receiving palliative care at the Emergency Department of Tran Van Thoi General Hospital.

Dr. Phan Van Tam, Deputy Head of the Oncology Department, Ca Mau General Hospital, said: “The symptoms of liver cancer in the early stages often have manifestations that are easily confused with other common diseases. Because liver cells do not have sensory nerves, even when the tumor has grown, causing compression or pain, it is not as clear as other organs. Therefore, many people are subjective, patients and even non-specialist doctors will misjudge the disease during the examination process. In the long run, it makes the disease worse because it is in the final stage.”

According to oncologists at Ca Mau General Hospital, the first signs of liver cancer are unexplained weight loss; the patient suddenly has jaundice; dark yellow urine; loss of appetite (even with the foods that they usually love every day); digestive disorders; itchy rashes on the skin; pain in the right hypochondrium... In some cases, patients may also lose weight very quickly, even if they do not follow a diet or exercise to lose weight. Often this sign will warn of many different diseases, including early stage liver cancer. This shows that liver cancer often develops silently and its symptoms are easily confused with other diseases.

Nurse at the Oncology Department, Ca Mau General Hospital, takes care of cancer patients being treated at the department.

Among the many causes that can lead to liver cancer, hepatitis B and C are one of the basic factors that can become a high risk. Therefore, according to the recommendations of oncologists, you should go for a screening test every 3-6 months. The purpose is to check whether the virus is active or still dormant. Although not everyone needs to be tested for hepatitis B and C. However, in some cases, this method is very necessary. First of all, people with symptoms of loss of appetite, jaundice, yellow eyes and causing liver enzymes to increase abnormally. However, testing when liver enzymes increase is only the first step, the basic thing is to find out what the real cause of the hepatitis process is. If it is due to virus B, then during the treatment process, specific methods are needed, such as using the antiviral Tenofovir, for example. In addition, tattooing cases also have a high risk, due to infection from tattoo needles or other tools that have not been properly sterilized. In addition, in a family, if someone is infected with hepatitis B or C virus, especially the mother, the rate of infection to the child is very high, even in cases before marriage but lack of careful initial screening to have a preventive plan. Therefore, often after marriage, the next generation will also be affected. Because hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood, through mother to child and even the relationship between husband and wife.

Ms. NHK, 25 years old, residing in Bay Ghe hamlet, Khanh Hai commune, Tran Van Thoi district is a typical case. Ms. K said: “Before getting married, I subjectively did not go for hepatitis B screening to have a treatment regimen and prevention solutions for the baby. Therefore, after giving birth, when performing the necessary tests to vaccinate the baby, I was informed by the doctor that the baby had been infected with hepatitis B virus from the mother.”

It is known that liver cancer in the early stages, if timely screening to detect early signs and have the right treatment regimen, the patient can be completely cured up to 80%. On the contrary, when the disease has progressed to a later stage, especially when the tumor has invaded the lymph nodes and metastasized to other cells. At this time, treatment will be extremely difficult, expensive and the patient's life expectancy is extremely low.

Phuong Vu

Source: https://baocamau.vn/cac-dau-hieu-giai-doan-dau-cua-ung-thu-gan-a39258.html