Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops and starts in the liver cells. It is the most common prevalent type of liver cancer, often known as the primary type. Hepatocellular carcinoma is more common in males over 60 than in women and younger men.
HCC incidence has been rising globally over the last 20 years and is expected to rise further in some countries, including the United States, until 2030. HCC is most common in Asia and Africa, with an increased prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C which predisposes to the development of chronic liver disease and, eventually, liver cancer. It is commonly diagnosed in people with chronic liver diseases, liver cirrhosis, and hepatitis B or C infection.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The specific etiology of all cases of hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown, although some factors may make you more likely to get it:
Hepatitis C or B: One of these liver infections can cause hepatocellular carcinoma even after many years after you've experienced the infection. It also gets spread when drug users share needles. Hepatitis B or C can be diagnosed through blood tests.
Diabetes and obesity: Liver cancer is more likely to occur if you have either condition. Hepatocellular carcinoma can develop due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease brought on by obesity. Diabetes increases the risk of liver damage may be the reason for developing HCC. Additionally, obesity and overweight are common among diabetes patients.
Cirrhosis: When liver cells are injured and replaced by scar tissue, cirrhosis can occur. It can be due to various conditions, including alcoholism, certain medicines, hepatitis B or C, and an excessive amount of iron deposited in the liver.
Excessive drinking: Hepatocellular carcinoma risk increases after several years of consuming alcoholic beverages daily. Your risk increases the more you drink.
Other causes may include,
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Use of anabolic steroids
- Harmful food substances like aflatoxin are found in the mold of peanuts, corn, and other nuts.
Symptoms Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
You might not have any symptoms in the early stages of hepatocellular carcinoma. You may experience one or more of these as cancer spreads:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- An upper abdominal bulge or sense of heaviness
- Abdominal bloating or swelling
- Decrease in appetite and fullness
- Loss of weight
- Weakness or extreme tiredness
- Nausea and diarrhea
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin
- Dark urine and pale, chalky stools
Hepatocellular carcinoma develops initially extremely slowly. Years may pass before you start to experience any symptoms. As the condition gets worse, hepatocellular carcinoma spreads more quickly.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment
Hepatocellular carcinoma can be treated in several ways. Medical professionals will create a treatment plan that considers your general health, how well the liver is functioning, and the tumor size. The treatment options comprise the following,
Radiation therapy: This destroys your cancer cells with high-energy photons. Hepatocellular carcinoma can be treated with either of two forms of radiation therapy such as external or internal. This therapy can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Immunotherapy: Drugs that boost your immune system's ability to locate and eradicate cancer cells are used in this treatment. Occasionally, immune therapy medications also known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, are used to treat liver cancer.
Embolization therapy or chemoembolization therapy: Doctors frequently inject chemotherapy medications directly into your liver to treat cancer. The procedure is known as "chemoembolization." The treatment aims to kill the tumor cells by reducing the blood flow to the liver.
Percutaneous ethanol injection: Healthcare professionals uses ultrasound to visualize inside body structures to guide a small needle into the tumor. Then ethanol (alcohol) is injected to kill cancer.
Targeted therapy: Drugs are used to treat cancer because they specifically target the cell-level alterations that lead to cancer. Some targeted treatments prevent cancers from growing new blood vessels. Others go after specific cancer cell proteins that promote tumor growth.
Cryoablation and Radiofrequency ablation: In cryoablation, physicians freeze the tumor with a thin metal probe and destroy the cancer cell. Likewise, electric current is used to kill the tumor in radiofrequency ablation.
Surgery: Part of the liver affected by cancer may be removed.
Tecentriq 1200mg is an immunotherapy drug used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. It attaches to a specific protein called programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and activates the anti-tumor activity of the T-cells. This process facilitates the immune system's fight against cancer. It blocks the interaction between the cancer cells and the receptors, eventually suppressing the cancer cell growth and multiplication. Common side effects of Tecentriq 1200mg include pain in the right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, bruising, diarrhea, and nerve problems.
